During Week 3 of Term 2, students studying the Preliminary PDHPE course were offered the opportunity to attend a four day camp at the Sport and Recreation facilities at Point Wolstoncroft.
The wide range of activities offered at the camp enabled students to cover a substantial amount of the Outdoor Recreation syllabus content in a very practical, student centred way.
Some of the activities in which students were able to develop their skills included sailing, kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking, stand up paddle boarding, camp site selection and campfire construction. In addition to the physical activities, students were regularly encouraged to utilise their skills in teamwork, decision-making and problem solving through a variety of initiative based challenges.
It was a fun-filled four days of activity, with students getting to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, whilst learning to work as a team in order to achieve group goals. Selflessness was the theme, with students being encouraged to think of others ahead of themselves.
The inclement weather threatened to ‘dampen’ the experience but students showed real resilience to work through any challenge and ‘just make it work’ in the true spirit of outdoor adventurers!
One of the many highlights was our regular campfire gatherings. Not only were these practical in nature (we cooked delicious chicken and vegetable curries on the hot coals in the iron camp ovens, followed by some well charcoaled damper for dessert) but more importantly, they proved to be great social opportunities.
Due to the prediction of thunderstorms, we were forced to reconsider our planned one night sleep out in the camping ground at Frazer Park. Instead, students were offered the chance to pitch their tents a little closer to home (on the grassed area near our cabins) and get a feel for the outdoor camping experience. A few groups chose to brave the weather and, to their credit, toughed it out the entire night, despite getting a bit wet!
It was an excellent few days away from school in an environment that allowed staff and students alike to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of each other. Mr McCafferty and I felt very privileged to have spent this time with an awesome group of students who made the most of every opportunity offered throughout the four days.
We would like to thank the fabulous staff at Point Wolstoncroft, who are friendly, flexible, accommodating and above all, professional. In particular, our camp leader Jake, whose level of patience, knowledge, experience and passion for Outdoor Recreation was outstanding.
Mrs Dennis and Mr McCafferty - PDHPE Faculty
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