Each activity only required a dash of participation and a sprinkle of good attitude. With these ingredients presented from both Uruao and Karikari, we cooked up a banger of a day. Read on for Karikari and Uruaos trip to Living Springs.

On the first week back to Te Pa of term 2 the entire karikari and uruao packed their bags for camp out at Living Springs.

On the morning of our departure: 
Countless sleeping bags, pillows, blankets and bags (that filled up almost half of the hall).
Excitement slowly started to emerge out of the kids and spread like a virus.
Once the buses were packed and full of kids we made our way to Govenors Bay to start the first part of out walk to Living Springs.

We were dropped off at governors bay and all riled up at a changing room not too far from the bay’s bank walk.

We split up in groups and were assigned a guide to take us around the bay and talk about the area of Whakaraupo.
We came to a farm house where we would wait for the other groups to have lunch and discuss the last part our hike we were informed we would have to hike up a steep 2km hill.
Through bush to finally reach our destination at Living Springs Campus.

After the tortuous hike we were told what bunk house’s we were in and given 15mins to collect our bags and set up our rooms.
We met in the auditorium to see what activities were planned for us for the rest of the afternoon.
There were two activities presented to us, swimming in the pool and recreational games. We were halved and told to get ready for the activity ahead and would swap once time was up.

Later on darkness filled the sky and it was time for dinner
The year 13’s were on serving and did a pretty good job said the Kaiārahi themselves!
After dinner, dessert and dishes were finished, we scrambled into the auditorium to do games run by the year 12’s, this was a part of an assignment for NCEA level 2.

 As per usual at every Māori noho, you always have skits to end the night.  With a laugh, the kids were split up into 6 groups to perform their skits.
Many laughs were shared and ab’s were aching from all the skits.

The icing on the cake (and crowd favourite) was the surprising  "Sex-Ed Skit" performed by the kaiārahi.
 Then with a swift karakia and last panui, kids were sent to their bunk houses to get ready of bed before lights-out.

The next day came in a flash and we served breakfast bright and early.
This was a struggle for some. We all gathered in the auditorium to be put into groups which would then go off into the activities for the day.

We did a bush walk, orienteering, mountain boarding, archery-tag and outdoor living skills.

Each activity only required a dash of participation and a sprinkle of good attitude. With these ingredients presented from both Uruao and Karikari, we cooked up a banger of a day

Speaking of food, during the day after each activity we were spoilt enough to have a kai waiting for us in the dining hall.

By the end of the day everyone had put in as much as they could and were extremely tired. But just before bedtime Matua Tauira and Hineamaru took us through a kapa haka session which was both thrilling and fun and also a great way to end the day.

On our last day, which started very slow, began with a beautiful well needed breakfast and straight into cleaning duties. Not everyone was very keen but we made it work all together.

 You know what they say teamwork makes the dream work.