Year 9 Camps
The Year 9 2015 camps involved a three day stay at the Orton Bradley Outdoor Education Centre at Charteris Bay. The camps were divided into Houses with Joyce and Rice on the first camp and Marlow and McClintock on the second camp.
Arriving at the Camp and after a quick 101 tent erecting session the boys unpacked and settled into their home for the next three days. During the course of the afternoon, boys were engaged in High Ropes and Orienteering activities.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Camp Mother Jo Gibbs, ably assisted by the Joyce boys, were preparing the evening meal of hamburgers and fries followed by a desert of ice-cream and fruit salad. At 6:00pm the bell sounded, the boys assembled for dinner, Grace was spoken and food devoured. At 8:00pm each evening a briefing session was held and activities for the following day were explained, followed by evening activities organised by the Year 13 leaders.
St Thomas’ were the first school in the Year 2000, to use the facilities at Orton Bradley Park which is run by a Trust under the guidance of Adventure Specialities and their team. The high ropes course is 17 metres above ground with the climbing wall 20 metres, each presenting different challenges while the abseiling is on Big Rock and is demanding for first timers. Other activities included coasteering, bush skills and the man walk.
Usually on the first night the boys tend to talk for several hours into the evening in their respective tents until a gruff voice calls out enough is enough. On the second night the chatter is not so long as they have been up from 6.30am to 9:00pm and so the energy levels have diminished and bed and sleep are a welcome relief. On Wednesday both groups overlapped, one cleaning up and the other settling in.
I would like to pay tribute to the Year 13 Sports Leadership camp leaders, for the caring and professional approach they displayed in giving up their time to help these young men through some challenging moments on the camp. Thanks also to teachers Brian Knopp and Bernie Lee who stayed over, plus the day visits by Brad Milne and Paul Burton. Their time, skills and interaction with the young men is truly appreciated.
Lastly, Mrs Jo Gibbs has made an outstanding contribution to St Thomas’s over many years and often she takes annual leave to assist with her marvellous skills and sense of humour to facilitate the smooth running of these camps and other events that she has willingly given up her time to help out, truly in the Kiwi way “A Good Sort.”
Marty Taylor