ACTIVITIES Outdoor Education
YEAR 9 OUTDOOR ACTIVITY WEEK AND YEAR 10 ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY The Year 9 outdoor activity week was held over the week of 20–27 November. It was split into two three-day blocks of activities and camping. Activity week followed a familiar format around water-based activities, but this year a day tramp, ropes activity and community service were also included. Following its success last year, the camp was again held at the Omaka Scout Camp, and the week was organised by outdoor adventure group Horizons Unlimited. The format saw the Year 9 boys split
into two groups of approximately 65 in each. The first group camped at Omaka for two nights, heading out for daily activities including a day tramp at Mt Oxford, rafting on Lake Rua, kayaking on Styx River, and a high ropes course at the Groynes. The other group tackled surfing at Sumner, a day of water- based activities at Cass Bay, which included stand up paddle boarding, and a day sailing at Lake Rua. While at Lake Rua the boys were also involved in community service doing maintenance work in the surrounding area. Once at the Omaka camp it feels as if you are in the middle of the countryside far from the city, as the 14-acre site is surrounded by mature trees and native bush, with a river flowing through. The stream was full of eels and trout to keep the boys’
attention in their downtime. And, although it felt like it was well away from the city, there was still the odd plane disturbing the silence. Another goal of the Year 9 camps is to start preparing the boys for the Year 10 Immerse & Inspire adventurous journey. The boys slept in tents similar to those used for the Year 10 trip, and the day tramp was intended to prepare them for what their first day of the adventurous journey would be like. Though the weather did not play ball the first afternoon, with a huge thunder and lightning show and a downpour lasting a few hours, we got through what we wanted to achieve. For the rest of the time the weather was really good, and the boys enjoyed the cooling water activities.
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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