Year 8 Kangaroobie Camp

Having spent much of Semester 2 in lockdown and remote learning, Year 8 students and their teachers were excited as they departed for camp in the penultimate week of the school year. 

Bridgland, Clifford, Macneil and Summons were the first four Houses to depart for camp. Hiking packs loaded, a nervous anticipation filled the air. After several hours on the bus and a short briefing, each House group set off along the Great Ocean Walk, eager for views of the ocean and their campsite for the first night. Following the departure of the first four Houses, Derham, Robinson, Schofield, Steven boarded their buses and made their way to Kangaroobie in Princetown. A hearty lunch welcomed them to camp and by early afternoon groups could be found canoeing down the Gellibrand River, testing their agility on the Challenge Course and roaming, GPS in hand, on a high tech navigation course. 

At lunchtime on Wednesday Bridgland, Clifford, Macneil and Summons made their way to Kangaroobie to begin the residential component of their camp, and Derham, Robinson, Schofield and Steven prepared to head out on their hike. Whilst the transition between the hike and residential components of the camp was busy, there were plenty of conversations between groups about the first part of the week; hikers keen to know what was in store for them at Kangaroobie and those who had been at Kangaroobie keen to hear how hard the hike was.

By the time all Houses met in Colac on the last day of camp it was clear that students had enjoyed their time in the Outdoors, embraced the challenges on offer and started their journey as Senior School students at Camberwell Grammar.

Year 9 Camps 

In the last week of their school year, Year 9 students headed out to various locations across Victoria to participate in a variety of different camps. 

Groups hiked in the Grampians National Park, rock climbed in Mount Arapiles-Toonan State Park, sea kayaked on the Gippsland Lakes, mountain biked along trails in central northern Victoria, caved, canyoned and abseiled at Mount Buffalo, hiked, mountain biked, and rock climbed in the Brisbane Ranges National Park, and hiked and tested their pioneering skills at Wollangarra near Licola. 

Having spent much to Term 3 and 4 restricted to the Greater Melbourne area, many were excited to travel into regional Victoria and others were keen to spend time in the outdoors, learning new skills and challenging themselves. As each group set off there was a buzz of excitement as students discussed what they would likely encounter during their time away. 

As buses returned to school on Friday it was clear that each camp had been well received by teachers and students alike. Fun, challenging, tiring, frustrating, exciting, scary, amazing were just some of the words used to describe experiences. The general consensus was it was worth waiting nearly six months to go on camp, and it was a magnificent way to end the school year.

Ms Kirsty McDougall

Director of Co-Curricular Activities and Physical Education Teacher