A Brilliant Year 6 Camp at Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre

Last week, our Year 6 students returned from what can only be described as a truly memorable camp at Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre (TEEC). Over four days they embraced challenges, built friendships and created memories that will stay with them for life. Not many schools commit to taking students on camp anymore, but we know our students and families value the experience and we have continued to offer this wonderful experience to our year 6 students.

From the moment we arrived on the buses, the sense of excitement was palpable. Students threw themselves into the wide range of activities on offer. Some tested their courage and teamwork on the Vertical Challenge and zip line, flying through the treetops with sounds of laughter and screams from themselves and their classmates. So much fun! Others scrambled up the bouldering wall while others waded at the lake’s edge, scoop-netting small creatures from under the water. Kayaking on the dam was a definite highlight, albeit with some groups enduring the cold and rain.  Despite the wet, the everyone was determined to get the most out of the experiences on offer.

Evenings were just as special. Night-time walks with torches revealed the bush in a completely new light and the crisp, clear nights gave us a spectacular view of the stars. Back in the dorms, students bunked with friends, sharing stories and laughter well into the night before finally going to sleep with much ‘direct encouragement’ from our very patient teachers!!

The meals were a big hit with the students and there was certainly no shortage of food. Breakfasts of bacon, pancakes, berries with compote, cream, yoghurt, toast, and cereal set us up for action-packed days and there were always plenty of seconds! But the runaway favourite was the steamed chocolate pudding with ice cream, a dessert that had everyone asking for more. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t remember gourmet meals like that at camp - baked beans and toast with a weet-bix and cornflakes being the most sophisticated of offerings on the menu. Great to see things have improved for our kids.

Beyond the fun and adventure, camp gave our Year 6s a wonderful opportunity to connect more deeply with their teachers and for us, as staff, to get to know them beyond the classroom. The teamwork, resilience and kindness they displayed made us incredibly proud.

A huge thank you goes to our dedicated teaching team for the time, energy and planning that went into making camp such a success and to the Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre staff for their expertise and warm hospitality. A special thanks for Mrs Huxham for taking on the role of camp organiser. We really appreciate the extra time and effort you dedicated to making sure everything and everyone was organised and ready to enjoy the experience. Thankyou to Mrs Landsberg, Mr Tan, Mrs Buttenshaw, Mrs Coverdale, Mrs Roxby and Mrs Thimios.  Troy Sullivan, Tayte’s dad, also volunteered to help at camp which was a great help to us. Thanks Troy!

Year 6 camp wasn’t just a few days away from school, it was a chance for our students to grow, laugh, challenge themselves and make lifelong memories. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

Kind regards,