College Year 9 Camp
College Year 9 Camp
March 06, 2017 at 3:26 AM
‘Fear may consume you at the thought of facing challenges such as bonding with people you don’t know, participating in activities you have never done before or just plain fear of going to camp. I promise you, this camp will leave you happy and confident at your new school. Take my word for it!
Will Eaton, Year 9
During a week of glorious sunshine, Year 9 had a fantastic week away at Totara Springs Camp in Matamata recently, with half the students heading off for the start of the week, followed by the rest taking their place for the second half on Wednesday.
The Year 9 camp is deliberately timed so early in the year as it is a great opportunity to help cement new friendships and create strong bonds in each of the Tutor Groups. With a new intake of Year 9 students at the beginning of the year, joining those who have already been at the College for Years 7 and 8, this camp is strategically timed to bring new groupings together in a week where activities and the opportunity for challenge were plentiful.
Set amongst 90 acres of park-like grounds and native bush, Totara Springs offers a multitude of challenges both indoors and out. The students enjoyed many of the traditional camp activities with highlights including the hydro-slide, abseiling, archery and the kart track. The students were also set team-building tasks that were particularly worthwhile as it got the whole Tutor Group talking, helping to set up their Tutor Group dynamic.
Camp is a fantastic opportunity for the boys and girls to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves physically and mentally in a new yet supportive environment. Through their time away from home, they were able to learn more about themselves and others, while growing in self-confidence. Our Year 13 Peer Support leaders played a big part at camp, providing support, encouragement and guidance for the Year 9’s and instilling a sense of what it means to be a Son or Daughter of Kentigern.
There is an enormous amount of careful planning to ensure trips beyond the campus are challenging, have a true sense of purpose, are safe and run smoothly. We accord our thanks to camp organiser, Mr David Sheehan, who was ably supported by Middle College Assistant Principal, Mrs Marianne Duston, Mr Chris Duncan (TIC EOTC), Mr Richard Tucker for his leadership of the Year 13 Peer Support students and the six Heads of Houses. This group of core staff, together with their team of House Tutors, and senior students worked together well to ensure the camp was once again a great success.
