We are super excited about our Year Ten outdoor education camp at the end of this term, Monday 28 November to Friday 2 December. Students have been placed into one of the seven camp options. A deposit of $120 should have been made to the school office, and the remaining balance is due on Friday 18 November. The final camp contributions are as follows:

• Albert Town, Aspiring, Caples, Luxmore, Omakau, Rakiura - $310

• Otepoti (Dunedin based camp with no overnight stay) - $180

Financial support is available, please contact the Year 10 Dean - Ms Neilson ni@otagogirls.school.nz, or our Counsellor - Ms Taylor tyr@otagogirls.school.nz.

Camp is always a rewarding, exciting and fun week. Students get the chance to be challenged, empowered, inspired and dream. It is an opportunity to take time away from devices, engage with the outdoors, build lasting memories of your time in the junior school, and get to know other students … and staff.

Students are being prepared for camp during their Physical Education classes, and individual camp meetings over the next three weeks. They will participate in a two-hour first aid work shop in the week leading up to camp, and a practise hike with their core class. Gear checks are part of our safety management procedures, and students will be asked to bring the appropriate items into school for checking by camp staff. It is helpful for the students to bring the gear for checking on the required day, please assist the students and staff with this.

Essential clothing and gear for all camps are:

• First/base layer: merino or polypropylene long sleeve top and long johns

• Mid-layer: woollen / merino or polar fleece jersey

• Outer-layer: quick dry top and shorts - PE uniform is perfect

• Waterproof-layer: waterproof jacket (must be seam sealed)

• Woollen / merino beanie, gloves, and socks

• Walking or sports shoes with good tread

• Warm 3-4 season sleeping bag

• For the tramping options, a 65-70L tramping pack will be required.

These items can be borrowed from family, friends, workmates, or take the opportunity to purchase them on sale. School has a limited supply of jackets and packs for hire: waterproof nylon jackets ($5) and 65-70L tramping packs ($25). If a student needs to hire either of these items, they must pay into the school office as early as possible.

Medical consent forms will be given to the students to take home at the next camp meeting. We would appreciate if you could complete these with the most accurate and up-to-date information. Please return the completed form to the camp leader as soon as possible, so we are able to consider, discuss if necessary, and meet the student's medical needs.

We encourage all students to increase their current level of fitness between now and December. Improved fitness levels will minimise the risk of injury, increase personal enjoyment, support self-management, improve coping mechanisms, and build resilience. Physical activity ideas to prepare for camp could include:

• jogging up and down stairs

• increase distance, time or intensity when out walking or running

• using stationary bikes, rower, treadmill or cross-trainers in the school gym

• walking up and down View St, Baldwin St

• going out for bush walks carrying a backpack (Ross Creek, Pineapple Track, Mt Cargill, Frasers Gully, Flagstaff)

Any cardiovascular exercise that increases their heart rate will make a difference when the student is at camp.