The 2024 Year 11 School Camp was an unforgettable journey, filled with exploration, personal growth, and a unique blend of learning and fun!
We started on Tuesday with an educational tour of South Metro TAFE, where students explored a variety of trades like locksmithing, electrical, fabrication, and aged care—helping them discover potential future pathways. Then, at Murdoch University, the stunning new Boola Katitjin building impressed us, and we explored cutting-edge sports health facilities, arts, and media production spaces, giving students a real sense of what tertiary education has to offer. Curtin University added to the excitement, with a discussion of different academic and vocational pathways, followed by an Amazing Race that encouraged collaboration and problem-solving.
On Wednesday, the camp activities began, designed to foster essential life skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. The Black Out Zone, a simulated crash site, challenged students to work together to overcome obstacles, within the sweaty environment of multiple redesigned shipping containers. Activities like the Leap of Faith, tested students’ physical courage but also their ability to show compassion towards others. It was heartwarming to see students cheer their peers on, as they were tasked with climbing a large telegraph pole, stand on top of it and take “the leap of faith“ by jumping off to try and hit a large orange ball hanging in the air.
The outdoor setting provided an invaluable opportunity for students to disconnect from their usual routines and immerse themselves in nature while engaging in teamwork. Whether it was canoeing, team-building activities, or raft-building, students were able to collaborate with peers they might not normally work with, broadening their perspectives and strengthening bonds across the cohort.
A heartwarming highlight came when Riley McNamara bonded with a duckling that followed him all the way back to camp, showing how camp fostered connections not only between people but with the natural world too. Students even found creative ways to lighten the mood, with a few successfully capsizing their teachers’ canoes!
We were privileged to have Brayden from Happiness and Co join us for a session on personal growth, where Year 11s showed vulnerability in sharing their thoughts and emotions. This helped strengthen students' emotional intelligence, encouraging self-reflection and empathy.
Our final night was a beautiful blend of reflection and relaxation. We gathered around the campfire, where Jacob Bryan played guitar and Travis Moreng and Makaila Remo sang, eventually sparking a full-cohort singalong. Spooky stories, s’mores, and a night adventure to an abandoned area of the campsite capped off the evening, giving students a memorable shared experience.
On Friday, students conquered the high ropes course at the Yanchep Treetops Adventure, pushing their limits while further enhancing teamwork and trust. We celebrated the end of an enriching week with a feast of pizza and soft drinks before heading home, exhausted but proud of all we had learned and achieved.
This camp wasn’t just about fun—it was an opportunity for students to grow, work together in new ways, build resilience, and develop the critical thinking and emotional intelligence that will serve them well both in school and beyond.