Year 8 Camp
Year 8 Camp
On the first day, we set off by bus to the Antarctic Centre.
After arriving, we gathered and were split into groups with parent helpers and Antarctic Centre Education staff. They led us through a range of activities, including a 4D movie that gave us a real sense of what it's like to journey to Antarctica by boat — the 4D effects literally hit you in the face! We also experienced the storm room, which simulates an Antarctic storm (but a bit warmer), and it was freezing! Some brave souls even faced the cold in shorts, though we weren’t that bold. We got to meet the huskies and had an exhilarating ride on the Hagglund, a rugged vehicle that took us on a bumpy adventure. They did decide to add a fake cross as if someone definitely didn't have a good time on the ride, some of you will understand. We wrapped up by meeting the penguins before heading to camp.
When we arrived at camp, everyone was clearly tired from the journey. After unpacking, we were divided into groups and started our first round of activities. Typically, we would have two rounds before breaking for morning tea, lunch, or afternoon tea, but since we arrived later than expected, our day was shortened to include lunch only. With no more scheduled activities after lunch, we had free time to explore the camp. Some of us played games like beach volleyball, jumped on trampolines, explored the playground, or played soccer with the camp owners' kids. Others relaxed in the cabins. However, the gaga dodgeball pit — a sand-filled octagonal arena — was by far the most popular game.
The next day, we had a full schedule of activities, with different groups rotating between go-karting, ziplining, mini golf, frisbee golf, a climbing wall, aero jump, archery, and rifle shooting. All of these activities were so much fun!
We also had a variety of prizes, some awarded for excelling in certain activities and others for funny mishaps, like crashing during go-karting or an unsuccessful flip on the aero jump. Even the parents got in on the fun, with one prize going to someone who forgot their towel and ended up accidentally buying a flannel instead.
On the last day, we packed up and cleaned our bunk rooms before heading off for two final activities. Afterwards, we hopped on the buses and made our way home. We loved camp so much that we were keen to stay for longer!
By Eve Upton and Pippa Saywell
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