As part of our Transitioning to Year 9 programme with Southland Boys High School Leeym was invited to go on the Year 8 camp to Deep Cove.

Recently I was lucky enough to go on a 3 night camp with SBHS Year 8's to Deep Cove. The Deep Cove Hostel is at the head of Doubtful Sound and it has had school camps going there since 1980. 

I met up with Mr Tonga's class early on the Sunday morning and after loading the bus we were off! Just as we did it started to snow so it was a slow trip, but by the time we got to Manapouri the sun was out. 

After the boat arrived we loaded it up with our gear and headed for the other side of the lake. Once we got to the other side we headed over the Wilmont Pass to Deep Cove which was awesome, but before we could do anything we had to have a briefing with the manager Billy Lid. 

When he had finished we on a quick walk to Brasil Point half an hour away from the hostel and afterwards we went fishing in the hostel dinghies and caught a shark! 

On the second day we went on a 6 HOUR walk to the Helena Falls and around the Old Doubtful Track, it was amazing you could get right under the falls and Old Doubtful was really steep. 

On the third day we did Hanging Valley, it was ultra steep and just rock hopping awesomeness. 

After that it was time for the boat cruise which went to the mouth of the Doubtful Sound. That was my favourite part of the whole trip! 

On the fourth day we had to GET UP AT 5 IN THE MORNING to clean up the hostel before the bus arrived to pick us up. When we got back to Manapouri we hopped on the bus and headed for Invercargill. I had a great time and made lots of new friends that I'll be glad to catch up with at school next year.

What Mr Tonga had to say about Leeym (below) made his parents and teachers super proud!

It was awesome! We had the most stunning weather I have seen in the 5 years I have been in. The boys were all very excited and Leeym just slotted right in as if he had been here since the start of the year. His natural outdoor confidence helped him with getting involved where the boys had no experience for example, he filleted a small fish for a boy to cook up and eat. The boys were saying how "he took all the bones and that out". He is a wonderful boy, hopefully we didn't scare him off coming to SBHS next year .