The SOA Class have been working hard on their kayaking skills and went to Borland to test them on the Waiau River.

Last term the SOA (Sport and Adventure) class spent considerable time learning basic flat water skills in the pool and on the local Oreti River with a focus on getting ready for their assessment camp.

Last week the class travelled to Borland Lodge and spent 2 and a half days further building their white water paddling skills on the Waiau River. The river experience provided the students with the opportunity and challenge of negotiating Grade 2 rapids, buddy and self rescues, performing key skills such as eddy turns, ferry gliding, wave surfing and rolling. Personal resilience and confidence was built through numerous nervous moments, some failures and the odd swim but by the end of the camp all were able to negotiate the river run in its entirety.

Great fun was had and many have developed skills that can be utilised in future kayak adventures. The experience provided a positive opportunity for personal development, goal setting and reflection.

Many thanks to Mr Brinkworth and Miss Harrison for their patience and instruction on the water, the off water experiences in the bush and helping the class work together as a team. Thanks also to Leevonne Diack who attended as “Camp Mum”. She guided rather than did the work required around camp, thus extending the learning experience for the boys. This was the first of a number of adventures planned for this group and was a positive start toward them further developing into good young men.