Annual 9-12 Camp November 2000

from Usha's & Margaret's Northside News article November 20, 2000

We had a week of adventure fun and rain at our camp.  Despite the constant downpour everyone had a fabulous time.  The children's enthusiasm, good manners, and willingness to make new friends with the Forestville Montessori School which accompanied us, were a pleasure to observe.  Well done 9-12!

The focus of the camp was on environmental studies and team building.  On Monday we visited Brewongle Environmental Education Centre and had a bush walk, dip netted pond life, and studied the composition of leaf litter.

On Tuesday we built wind powered vehicles and explored the benefits of solar power.  Recycling activities and a historic re-enactment of life in the 1870's were also fun. 

On Wednesday we stayed at Camp Mackay and did activities that promoted team building, initiative, cooperation and leadership.  The children built fully functioning catapults, and worked together on a ropes course and a very challenging obstacle course.  The initiative and collaborative effort shown during the obstacle course was incredible.  The teams had to manoeuvre around obstacles and get everyone across the course using a sack and a small trolley without anyone touching the floor.  The pride in the children's faces at the end of this activity was priceless.

On Thursday the children raced go carts and did archery.  Those who chose also went on the giant swing (32 metres above the ground) and Australia's longest flying fox (418 metres long).

On Friday we had a day of Aboriginal Studies, where we listened to the stories of the dreaming, learnt Aboriginal symbols, handled Aboriginal artefacts and made emu callers.  Lunch was 'bush tucker' which included crocodile and kangaroo.

Our evenings were full too with discos, water slide and pool activities, movies, games and a talent show.  I'm sure everyone slept well over the weekend.

A big thank you goes to Craig (Father of one of the spupils) who accompanied us.  Craig passed the rain, late nights, five o'clock starts, boy's room clean up, hour long choruses of 'Munchie bus is coming', and the mud tests with flying colours.  We really appreciate your help and the precious time you gave up to be with us at the camp.

a  parent's Northside News article December 4, 2000

It's a dirty job, but someone had to do it!

Two weeks ago I accompanied the Northside Montessori 9-12 class to their annual camp.  Did I really know what I was in for?  No, but I had a strong suspicion that there would be some unpleasant moments.

What I really didn't expect was that a visitor to Mackay Camp would see the children, en masse, while they were eating, and then, thinking I was a teacher, compliment me on their excellent behaviour!

I also did not expect to witness some children facing their own fears in small and yet powerfully courageous situations.  Children, who I knew were scared of heights, deciding themselves to have a go on the giant swing or the flying fox.  I have no doubt that within themselves they were challenging their own fears - the true definition of a courageous action.

It was impressive to see how in all the activities the children were always ready to have a go.  On the Monday night it was decided to run a mini Olympics and the amount of physical effort that they put in was immense!  Ten different workstations, including push-ups, sit- ups, skipping, puzzles and several skill activities.  By rights they should have slept for a day, but they still had buckets of get up and go for the rest of the evening and the week.

You probably heard that the Mackay Camp had a waterslide and a vending machine.  Both were utilised to their fullest capacity.  When the vending machine was refilled on Friday morning, the news swept the camp just as if gold had been discovered.

You will also know that it rained almost non-stop all week.  I suspect that the children were unaware of this point.  Shorts and singlets were the most common selection of clothing and no amount of advice on warmer clothing would change their minds.  I am sure that there was a significant amount of Kurrajong topsoil packed into bags on Friday morning.

Usha and Margaret need special mention as they did a great job.  Typically their day started about 5.30am and finished after midnight.  The children give them great respect and they deserve it.

I think that next year there should be a queue of fathers waiting to take their turn on the excursion.  Overall it was exhausting, it was noisy, but it was rewarding to be with the children over the five days and see how they live and enjoy their friends and their teachers.  (Oh yes, it was smelly and wet).