Year 9 Great South-West Camp 2023

During their recent camps, our Year 9 students have been exploring the Great South-West and Lower Glenelg National Park. Students experienced hiking, canoeing and mountain bike riding over their 5-day journey. In addition, students were required to cook all their own meals on stoves and sleep in tents that they carried in their packs.

The groups faced some challenging weather and overcame some challenges, which is a key part of the camp.

Our key take-home message for our Year 9 students is “Being able to challenge yourself and to embrace positive discomfort is a skill that is important for you to continue to develop. As you move through life you will be faced with many options and problems. Some may seem difficult, however, embracing these decisions can have many positive impacts on us as humans.”

A huge thank you for our CMC staff for volunteering their time to make the camp possible. Enjoy the photo gallery below and scroll down for student reflections.

Mr Jack Timmins & Ms Chloe Montgomery, Year Level Learning Leaders – Year 9

Student Reflections

Year 9 Camp was an incredible experience as we got to try things we have never done before like canoeing, biking riding and extreme hiking. On camp, we were in a small group of nine students including six boys and three girls. Being a small group we got to know each other well. On the first two days we went canoeing in pairs up the Glenelg River to find camping spots each night. Canoeing overall was really fun and an active experience. It was quite tiring after a while, but it made us more resilient. On the first two nights, our dinners were Green Curry with Noodles and Honey Soy Chicken Stir Fry. On the third day we went on a 26km bike ride through a beautiful pine plantation. Bike riding was amazing, but it also was the hardest part of camp and when we got to our destination we had some free time which we spent playing hide and seek in a pine plantation. That night we had Spaghetti Bolognese and made a massive and delicious pot of hot chocolate for dessert. The morning after, we were woken up by a Koala fight that sounded like an alarm.

Then we got ready for a 14km hike with 60kg hiking backpacks. The hike was lovely as we got to walk through hilly farming lands as well as a beach jungle. As the hike continued, we encountered a majestic cave that we explored during our lunch break. When we arrived at the final campsite we were exhausted and threw ourselves on the ground for a rest. We assembled our tent and made burritos for dinner – that was the best dinner on camp. Later, our group went to a nearby cliff to look at the ocean and we told stories around the campfire.

The final day we walked 2km to meet the bus to take us home. Our highlights from camp were the late-night talks around the campfire, scary stories told by our camp leader at night, seeing the beach and creating memories with fellow students that we wouldn’t normally talk to at school.  (Rose & Liv)

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The high points of Year 9 Camp to me were that everyone worked together and all had the same goal, and it also puts your life into perspective. With others by your side you can do anything, you can make new friendships and you get to see the world in all its glory. You get to see caves, river, cliffs, oceans and hillsides. Experiences that will last you a lifetime and you will look back and say to your friends “remember the time when we went on Year 9 camp and all the fun we had?” To this day I believe that Year 9 Camp is one of the best camps I have ever been on. It’s a very big accomplishment to do the camp and everything that you are given you are so grateful for. You may have some low points, like sitting on the road for three hours, or you could have highs like taking in the views and making new friendships. You just have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. (William)

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Camp was a really great experience for students to mix with each other, meet new people, and just have a good time. All the activities that the groups did were very active, and it was good to get out during the day and do fun things. Highlights of camp would have to be the campfires at night, sitting around with your group having great chats, seeing if we could spot all the koalas that were high up in the trees, and lastly the bus rides up and back because it was fun to be with our friends having funny chats before and after camp. Even though there was lots of walking, canoeing, and riding, it was still a very fun experience and we’re glad that we were able to join in and spend time doing things that were good for us. (Scarlett & Hannah)

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The Year 9 Camp in Portland was a challenging adventure that tested our resilience and determination. The days were filled with big adventures that a lot of us have never tried before. We went on tough hikes with steep hills and rocky paths that made us really work hard. Throughout this experience we also had fun, making new friends, taking in the coastal views, and enjoying some lollies to keep us going. As hard as the walks were, the exhaustion left as soon as we arrived at our campsite. We would sit on a small dock on the water’s edge, watching the sunset while giggling with each other. We often found ourselves being covered in leeches whilst in the bush but that was the least of everybody’s worries when we participated in nighttime activities such as spotlight. Although we were not enjoying having to clean ourselves with baby wipes and not having flushable toilets, the experience was something we will never forget. (Annabelle & Gemma)

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Year 9 Camp was an experience to remember, which tested our physical and mental abilities. We had many challenges throughout the camp. This included a 20-kilometre walk in just three days, carrying heavy packs. However, it was all worth it for the memories we created and the lifelong friendships we made. Our favourite part of the camp was canoeing. It was so much fun to canoe with friends and we all enjoyed it very much. While canoeing we saw thirty-two koalas and a couple of emus. The worst part of camp was the leeches that were everywhere and the intense walking was challenging and tiring at times. However, the chats on the walk were funny and enjoyable. It was hard to not have a shower for a week and not have flushable toilets, however when returning home we realised how much we missed camp. (Georgia)

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This camp provided some exciting opportunities to mingle with people that you may not normally interact with. It was a breath taking 5-day experience, which included three days of extreme hiking through the stunning Cobboboonee National Park, where each student got the opportunity to navigate for their group on their hiking journey. As we witnessed the stunning sunset each evening, all group members helped prepare and cook dinner, with everyone helping wash the cooking gear. Each group got the chance to canoe down the ever so classy Glenelg River for a day, which just takes your breath away. There were multiple challenges; mental, physical and social, that every individual faced but we all persevered and worked together to through the week to get the job done. (Charles & Sebastian)

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Year 9 Camp was a very different, yet exciting experience. It was a camp that won’t ever be forgotten.

We participated in activities such as hiking, mountain bike riding and canoeing, which were all great things to experience and overall, were really enjoyable. The hiking was very long and challenging for some people, as we had to carry our packs that included all our belongings, food and camp gear, causing us to experience much more difficulty when it came to hills and bumpy tracks. Every day got better as we became more comfortable with our packs and being outdoors. The canoeing and bike riding were a lot cruisier experiences. Without the constant weight of the packs on our backs, we could embrace the environment and views around us.

As well as activities we had plenty of time to bond with our group, whether that be around the campfire, at dinner, setting up camp or over the constant leech searches. Overall, everyone had their own ups and downs throughout the camp when it came to the activities, meals, groups, sleeping arrangements or even the unpredictable weather. Despite these things, everyone left with new and amazing memories and stronger friendships that were formed over the five eventful days. (Lilly & Zahli )

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On camp we walked with our pack on for three days with a total of twenty-seven kilometres; on the fourth day we canoed eleven kiolmetres on the Glenelg River. Then on Friday we rode five kilometres. Each night we camped at a different campsite, which we walked and canoed too. We slept in tents and had to carry them in our packs each day. We also had to cook our meals every morning, lunch and night. All week we had to carry the food we were going to eat, until we cooked and ate it. Our packs were very heavy; we each had to split up group gear and have it in our packs, as well as our clothes and split up food. I enjoyed the nights when everyone was cooking dinner and laughing together, getting to know people I haven’t talked to much before. The challenging part for me was walking with our really heavy packs because it felt like I had bricks on my back, as well as walking further then I have ever walked at once. The highlight of the camp for me was after dinner. We all walked to the undercover area and sat there for hours chatting and laughing with the whole group. Our teacher was Mrs Leahy, and she told us about all the outdoor adventures she has been on in her outdoor ed. career. Our camp leader was Cat. She liked things to be in order and told us about her life, and we got to know her a bit better as the camp went on. (Neve)

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On camp, we hiked, canoed and went biker. I enjoyed the canoeing because it was easy and relaxing. Something I found challenging was the hiking because we hiked for hours with heavy packs on our backs. My highlight was talking to people I wouldn’t normally talk to. (Hannah)