Post date: Oct 27, 2016 2:25:47 PM
Day 4 of a camp is often the hardest one. The tiredness is definitely kicking in and the end is in sight with the prospect of home and all the comforts that it brings, yet we aren’t quite there yet. While this morning started off quietly, there was a drive and energy that we have become accustomed to throughout the day and into the evening. There is only one activity left for all the groups as we bring the camp to a conclusion tomorrow. Yet today was all still about new experiences and it has been enjoyable to share them with the students. Across the site this morning I have seen students naming eggs (Eggbert, Eggward and Eggcellent) in the hope of preserving them as they dropped them from great heights in a safety capsule which was better designed (perhaps) than the latest Mars lander.
While I had expected to see more pirate action when the kayakers and raft builders crossed paths on the water it really was only the pioneers and their homemade trebuchets that were launching missiles (water balloons) at each other. In an area that I consider my backyard I enjoyed sharing the Environmental Experience with the students, learning new things along the way, as we moved three adjacent but very different ecological zones.
It is not just the activities that allow the students to have a common shared experience. It has been a real pleasure seeing the students interacting with each other in their own time, further firming or creating new relationships with their peers. Small things, such as acknowledging you as they walk by and chatting about their experience are what makes camp for me. Seeing another side of the students comes to fore and we were able to do this in are final night talent show – always an enjoyable way to mark the drawing to a close of camp.
We are looking forward to being home, but let us not get ahead of ourselves as we have one final action packed day to come.