Boys' School 'Boys Vs Wild'

The 2014 Boy vs Wild service ‘overnighter’ was held this last week on Motutapu Island. This year a record 37 boys qualified for the trip by earning the Silver Badge of the Saint Kentigern Service Award. The overnight trip is part of the Gold Award.

Accompanied by Mr Johansen, Mr Kirk, Mr Haar and Rev Hardie, the Saint Kentigern boys hosted a further six Year 6 boys from Wymondley Road School in Otara, along with their Principal, Mr Pelu Leaupepetele. The boys from Wymondley had been hand-picked from a school leadership programme Wymondely had run this year.

The first day entailed a ferry ride into Home Bay on the new Explore ferry, setting up camp and then a team race around the island, right out to Billy Goat Point, the furthest point. At each check point, in true boy-style, the boys had to complete either a ‘gross’ food challenge, construct a human pyramid, or one of the other challenges before returning to Home Bay for a very ‘refreshing’ jump off the wharf – it’s not quite summer yet but the boys didn’t mind!

The evening activities of cooking dinner and spotlight got underway and then just before bed, the boys were taken down to the beach where they spent time lying on the sand listening to waves roll in and watching the stars appear in the night sky. For some boys this was one of the highlights of the trip. It was a freezing night and in true ‘Bear Gryls style,’ the boys and staff donned every item of clothing to get through the night, some even hopped inside their rucksacks! 

After a first day of team work and bonding, Day 2 was all about service. The boys spent five hours digging a trench for a new water pipe in Home Bay, laying the pipe and then refilling the trench. It was back breaking work, the ground was rocky and uncompromising in places but the boys kept at it and felt hugely satisfied when they had finished the job. 

The boys and staff were each issued with an army style 24 hour ‘ration pack’ for food and substenance over the two days - although this was supplemented by 200 sausages donated by Rotary and one snapper caught using a long line just off the beach at Home Bay! The boys returned to their families completely exhausted, but with many stories to tell and a strong sense of pride at what they had achieved. This was one of the best Boy vs Wild trips yet!