On the morning of Monday 2 September, the Year 9s grabbed their bags, said their goodbyes and headed for camp.

After a scenic two hour bus ride down The Great Ocean Road, we arrived at camp Wilkin in Anglesea. As we stepped off the bus we were greeted by the fresh air and friendly staff. We ate our lunch and wasted no time getting stuck into our first activity. Some of the activities we participated in were canoeing, high ropes, mountain biking, initiatives, sports, beach walk, surfing and overnight camping.

By far the outstanding activity was the overnight camping, each night a group of Year 9s set off on a 5km hike, with beautiful views and rough terrain, to our camp ground, Eumarella scout camp. When we reached the camp, we set up our tents and started on the dinner. We made some very tasty pasta with some garlic bread for starters. For dessert we had some scrumptious chocolate mousse and an array of different slices. A memorable part of camping was sitting around the fire. In the morning, we cooked toast over the campfire and ate cereal. After a fun night we walked back to Camp Wilkin along the beach.

For many Year 9s, surfing was a new experience. Our instructors were very helpful and taught the basics of surfing. It wasn’t long before many of us were off and away, riding our first wave. Another highlight was canoeing, where we canoed the along the Anglesea wetlands.

Although we experienced a couple of showers, overall the weather was stunning. The food was also enjoyable.

Overall, from the solid effort put in by all Year 9 students, we have created new friendships and bonds with other peers, and have learnt many skills along the way. We would like to thank all teachers and ex-students who came along and made such a memorable time for all of us.

Matthew, Lewis & Oliver
Year 9 Students