WARNING!!! This account of our Camp contains much embarrassment and humiliation, but is saved by the strength of teamwork and of course heaps of fun!
Over the course of three days at Ern Halliday Camp in Hillarys, we enjoyed some great and exciting activities that everybody, and I mean everybody, including the teachers and the parents, loved! This includes the HIGHlights of the Giant Swing, Vertical Ascent, Crate Climbing and some down to earth Caving and Archery. I have no idea how the camp came up with the different activities, but I’m glad they did.
What can I say about the food? How about …delicious? On the first afternoon we were treated with vanilla berry cake and for dinner we ate juicy roast beef with vegetables and roast potato and pumpkin. The next day for breakfast we ate toast with cereal and a gorgeous fruit platter – yum! For lunch we had steak stew with pastry and for dinner we had Italian chicken, rice, vegetables and salads. On the third day we had a delicious hash brown, sausage, baked beans and scrambled egg with toast. For lunch we had sandwiches, the most popular being chicken with lettuce, tomato and cheese. When the time came to leave, and I know I can’t speak for everyone else, I realised just how much I would miss the food!
It was also party time! As if a fun-filled day is not enough, Year 7 camp included a fantastic Hawaiian disco. After a warm shower we emerged in colourful shirts, leis and grass skirts. As a special treat we were given a can of soda and a packet of chips, and we were allowed to pack a bag of lollies – something for the Year 6 students to look forward to!. We danced to our favourite requests and ended the night with a surprise flash mob by the teachers.
Even though the games at Ern Halliday were amazing, you must be sure to never doubt the mysterious mind of Mr. Hollingsworth. Fancy a little bit of WAR? No? Don’t let Mr. Hollingsworth hear you say that. During our last sleepless night, the whole gang of the Year 7’s, including the teachers and parents, battled it out for the chance to be the number one team – the parents and teachers won! Personally, I was torpedoed … torpedoed I tell you! To all the parents and teachers who were there, a little warning, the kids will always hold a grudge, so make sure you look over your shoulder - you just never know when we will strike!!
Just when the teachers thought their fame was coming to an end on the last day of Camp there was a game that would determine the winning team. The evil-genius mastermind responsible for all the commotion was Mr. Streeter with his epic ‘find the coloured bits of string to win’ competition! It was down to two groups in the end, but there could only be one winner and that winner was… The Oompa Lumpas – Willy Wonka would have been proud. Yes, that’s right- the very team that on the first day was in last position. The Oompa Lumpas, and they should be very proud of themselves, as the team displayed much teamwork.
Overall, the Year 7 camp was amazing and even though we came back tired, with many bumps and bruises, the teamwork we experienced was outstanding. We had a ‘truckload’ of fun together and came back having made more friends and created new memories. Without doubt, we would like to give our biggest thanks to all of the parents, teachers and, of course, students who welcomed camp with the warmest of hearts. This camp will never be forgotten.
Written by Kady Scott, Jorja Carberry, Olivia Williams, Joshua Cronin, and Ryan Gilling