Up before first light and down after dark. The first day had us on our toes and it was the first taste of our amazing camp to Jindabyne. The bus trip was long, and we had our moments, but we got through it and arrived at camp. We were introduced to our camp leaders and our teachers were as enthusiastic as ever. We picked out our bunks and we went down to the oval for a game of football before heading to our first meal. The food was amazing during the camp and I’m sure we can all agree that the kitchen staff made our camp that extra bit more enjoyable. The food was tasty and warm, and it hit the spot. A few injuries came with the first day and we learned that playing tip in the dark was not the greatest of ideas. The next three days would encompass activities that would test our boundaries and let us reach our limits whether that be from an 18km hike up Mt Kosciuszko or getting hit in the back of the head by a snowball from Mr Ellis. There were some challenges, but the hike was so much fun, and our hard work was rewarded with incredible panoramic views over the ranges. After that, we all needed a good night’s sleep. We all were falling asleep in our chairs and making fun of each other as the next person crashed, we all slept well that night. Big shout out to the teachers who put up with us for during the long day.
Next came the bike riding, with all the gear strapped on and our bags packed. The instructors were so helpful, and they really made the day special. From the sharp berms to the steep hills, the pump track to the flow. There were plenty of tracks for us to learn and show off our skills although, we had our fair share of incidents. The highlight of the day had to be Mr Rozario getting overly competitive in a pump track race and falling head over handlebars to try and get a win. Unfortunately, the shorts did not survive the fall. Finally, we had raft building and abseiling. In rotations, two groups alternated. One session involved using materials to build a suitable raft for your team to paddle out into the lake and back. Then we had abseiling, which tested our limits and showed us who feared heights.
During the camp we spent two nights in tents, one at Thredbo diggings, one at Island Bend, and two in cabins at Bungarra. These different settings offered different challenges and rewards, ranging from the tv and foosball tables at the cabins, to the river at Thredbo Diggings. A lot of us went for a swim in the freezing river and Mr Gentle embraced the cold and went for a session freestyle. We dried ourselves, went and made our own dinner and all gathered around our group’s campfire and enjoyed the delicious cookies. I must admit they were pretty good. At the end of the camp, we all told our favourite moments and had a great laugh, and we finally had our last sleep in Jindabyne. The next day we said our goodbyes and were back on the bus to school.
Thank you to all the teachers who came on the trip and made the journey so much more enjoyable. I’d also like to mention all the camp staff who were on-site with us for the week.
Students have been sent a link to download the images taken
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