During a week of glorious sunshine, with just the occasional drizzle to cool things down, Year 9 had a fantastic week away at Totara Springs Camp in Matamata, with half the students heading off for the start of the week, followed by the rest taking their place for the second half on Wednesday. 

The Year 9 camp is a great opportunity to help cement new friendships and create strong bonds in each of the Tutor Groups. With a new intake of Year 9 students at the beginning of the year, joining those who have already been at the College for Years 7 and 8, this camp is strategically timed to bring new groupings together in a week where activities and the opportunity for challenge were plentiful. 

Set amongst 90 acres of park-like grounds and native bush, Totara Springs offers a multitude of challenges both indoors and out. The students enjoyed many of the traditional camp activities with  including abseiling, archery and the kart track. Highest in the popularity stakes by far, however, was the downhill, high speed foam slide awash with bubbles! 

The students were also set team-building tasks that were particularly worthwhile as it got the whole Tutor Group talking, helping to set up their Tutor Group dynamic. Amongst these tasks was the requirement to build their own shelter from supplied materials for a night camping out. Some were successful but others found themselves up in the dead of night reconnecting their sagging shelter! Regardless, fun was had by all! 

Camp is a fantastic opportunity for the boys and girls to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves physically and mentally in a new, yet supportive, environment. Through their time away from home, they were able to learn more about themselves and others, while growing in self-confidence.  Our Year 13 Peer Support leaders played a big part at camp, providing support, encouragement and guidance for the Year 9’s and instilling a sense of what it means to be a Son or Daughter of Kentigern.  

There is an enormous amount of careful planning to ensure trips beyond the campus are challenging, have a true sense of purpose, are safe and run smoothly. We accord our thanks to camp organiser, Mr David Sheehan, who was ably supported by Middle College Assistant Principal, Mrs Marianne Duston, Mr Chris Duncan (TIC EOTC), Mr Richard Tucker for his leadership of the Year 13 Peer Support students and the six Heads of Houses. This group of core staff, together with their team of House Tutors, and senior students worked together well to ensure the camp was once again a great success.

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