Our school camp to Finlay park kicked off with a long, bumpy bus ride that took about two and a half hours. We stopped at Gordonton for a quick morning tea break, which was a welcoming pause to stretch our stiff legs and grab a snack. The fresh air and relaxed atmosphere felt like a mini vacation before we hit the road again. Finally rolling into camp after a long ride, we unloaded our bags into the cozy cabins and made our way to the rec room for lunch. The room was buzzing with chatter and laughter, a nice change of pace after the trip. It was good to finally sit down and relax for a bit.

Following lunch, we jumped into the Top Town games, which were a mix of fun and fierce competition. Everyone was eager to win, and the games quickly turned intense. There was plenty of friendly trash talk and high-fives all around. After all the excitement, we were given some free time to do whatever we wanted. I raced straight to the hydro slide and waterslide, and wow, they did not disappoint. The cool water splashed over me as I zipped down, laughing the whole way. It was the perfect strategy to cool off and relax with friends. As evening unfolded, we had a filling dinner, and then it was time to head out for the glowworm tour. Boating through the narrow, winding paths was quiet and peaceful, and the sight of the glowworms lighting up the dark cave walls was absolutely magical. It felt like something out of a fairy tale.Exhausted but happy, we returned to our cabins for a well-earned sleep, ready to face whatever adventures day two had in store.

Day two was incredible. I woke up feeling great, jumping out of bed on the right side. Haha, get it? Right side! After brushing my teeth, we went kayaking, starting with a game of “Sharks and Minnows.” I stayed safe and survived until the time ran out. Then, we played “World Conqueror,” where I conquered a lot of kayaks but ended up losing in the end. After kayaking, we hit the pool inflatables, where you had to keep running or risk falling off into the water. It was challenging but fun. We followed that with the confidence course, crawling through ropes and spinning tunnels, which was a great workout and a fun challenge.

After conquering the confidence course, we refueled with a delicious lunch before heading out for go-karting — which turned out to be absolutely thrilling, insanely fun, and just all-around awesome. We zoomed around the track, going incredibly fast with sharp, thrilling turns and tires lining the sides, creating a super intense, high-energy vibe. It felt just like Mario Kart, with all the adrenaline and fun. There were two people per car, and my buddy, Mason, who is a super relaxed and easygoing guy, was my partner. We had two chances to race, and on the second try, I was feeling super confident and didn’t even use the brakes! It was such a rush. I also met Till, an awesome, friendly instructor who was not only skilled but also had a great sense of humour. He gave us some helpful tips, making the whole experience even more exciting.We wrapped up the day with a delicious dinner, then played “Minute to Win It” games like the egg race and “blow the feather” race, which was a thrill to compete in. Finally, we called it a night, feeling satisfied and excited for what day three had in store.

It started with a jumpstart as I was enjoying my sweet time in bed, relaxing, when Alex, my roommate, climbed up the ladder and almost yelled in my face, "ARE YOU AWAKE YET!?" That made me get up and start getting ready for the day ahead of me.We kicked things off with Animal Survival, a game we play on an island called Skull Island. The island is super muddy, and we had the most fun. It was absolutely the best! I even put mud on my face like I was in the army getting into full survival mode!The game had a cool twist: there was a team of hunters that were at the top of the food chain, killing off the animals. Then, there were the dogs with 2 lives, the goats and deer with 4 lives, the stoats and cats with 4 lives as well, and finally, the rats with 8 lives. The game was super intense, and the mud made everything even more chaotic. I really liked it. everyone was trying to stay alive and outsmart the hunters while dealing with all the other animals. After the game, we hopped onto the boat and cruised back. But of course, we couldn’t just go back to camp quietly so we jumped off the boat into Lake Karapiro and swam back to land. It felt amazing after all the mud and excitement. Such a fun way to end an awesome activity!

Next up was indoor climbing, where we tackled the rock wall. We harnessed up and had a blast trying to make it to the top to hit the button. There were several levels to choose from: easy, medium, expert, and extreme expert. I made it to the expert level, and while the extreme expert was a bit too much for me, it was still cool to push myself that far. We could also climb the ladder and the rope, and I even used crates to help me reach the top by stacking them under me. Viola, however, was the expert - she managed to stack an incredible 16 crates under her, which was truly phenomenal!

Then, we had free time, and I decided I would do everything for the last time, knowing it was going to be my last ever free time. It turned out to be amazing taking in every moment and making the most of the time left. It really hit me how much I had enjoyed everything, and I felt like I was soaking it all in one last time. While climbing was fun, the highlight of the day was definitely Animal Survival. The muddy chaos and the whole survival vibe just made it the best experience! After a quick shower to clean off all the mud, we had a scrumptious dinner that hit the spot after all the action. To cap off the night, we watched Rise of Gru, a fun way to relax. Then, we rested up, wondering what adventures we would cover on Day four.

The last and final day that I would spend at camp had arrived. After a gigantic, exhausting cleanup of disinfecting our beds, vacuuming the floor, mopping the floor, and many other tiring tasks, we got our luggage ready and neatly placed it in the hall, ready for breakfast. After a delicious breakfast, we played on the smooth and soft, warm sand which was super cool and fun. Finally, we had a mouthwatering brunch, which consisted of fluffy pancakes, crispy eggs, savory spaghetti, golden toast, and seasoned beans. It was a super good brunch, and it tasted like heaven. Then, we finally took photos of our cheerful cabin groups and our lively class. We finally loaded our luggage into the bus before hopping in and taking the same long, bumpy 2-hour and 30-minute bus ride home.

Year six camp was an unforgettable adventure where we spent four days at Findlay Park surrounded by nature, learning valuable skills and creating lifelong memories. But it wasn’t just about fun. It was about learning to be independent, work as a team and face challenges with confidence. I came back with new friendships, unforgettable memories and a sense of accomplishment. Those memories will stay with me for years to come.

By Aveer Aulakh (Room 18)

Pūtahi Akoranga