Reflecting on the Year 11 Retreat
By Hannah Appaneal, Year 11 Student
During Week 2 of Term 1, Year 11s went on their final school camp. The Year 11 Retreat went from Wednesday to Friday and was jam-packed with fun activities that taught us valuable lessons we were able to take home. Daytime camp activities included archery tag, chain reaction (where we had to create a Rune Goldberg-type machine), canoeing, mountain biking, frisbee golf and survival skills, as well as workshops and dancing with dancer and poet, Jahzeel.
On day one, my group started its first activity almost immediately after arriving and eating lunch. Archery tag was a very fun experience for everyone. It allowed people to bring out their competitive side and really get into the games. Chain reaction was an activity we did based on creating a Rune Goldberg machine in order to practise creativity and communication within a group. My group faced a lot of challenges when it came to the creation of this machine as it was extremely temperamental.
After our activities, we had our first dinner. The food was good, as was the dorm-style accommodation. After we ate, half the mentor groups did trivia while the other half did games and activities. Trivia was very competitive, and I enjoyed it very much (I also must add that if the bonus challenges weren’t so bias, then my team would have won - hands down!). After trivia, we went back to our cabins, debriefed on our day and went to sleep warm and comfy.
The second day was equally packed, however, it rained for most of it. Luckily for us, we had indoor activities with our mentors, including affirmations, friendly competitive games, a chapel workshop and dance with Jahzeel. All of these rotations were incredibly fun and beneficial. Personally, I enjoyed the positive affirmations and getting to share and receive things that other people admire about you or things you admire about them. Jahzeel's dancing was also a very fun way to spend a rainy morning and was incredibly impressive. After this, we made our way to lunch!
After lunch, my group got the chance to go canoeing! It was very fun and slightly scary because I did NOT want to capsize into the freezing cold lake. It was very leisurely and enjoyable and a good way to spend in the few hours of sun we got that day. When we got back, we had dinner, and my group went on to participate in a games night! It was filled with balance challenges, fun competitions and funny games. It was very enjoyable, and everyone laughed the whole night away - a great way to spend the last night of retreat.
On the morning of our last day, it was already blisteringly hot before breakfast time. We got our rooms all packed up and set out for our last activities for the day. My group started off with survival skills. We learnt how to start a fire and how to properly construct one that is suitable for cooking. After we managed this, we went onto make damper and got to eat it as a morning tea snack. After this, we went onto do mountain biking, which was enjoyable but extra challenging due to the heat and lack of shade. After we cycled down the mountain covered in sweat, we got to do our final activity - frisbee golf. I partnered up with Mr Bailey and Holly and we had a great time playing the game. I think my whole group would agree that it was a great way to finish off the morning before heading to lunch.
After lunch, we had our chapel and performances by the amazing Jahzeel, Micah and Maddie and a great poem written by Rose. We said our thanks and prayers and were soon on our way back home to Canberra.
The Year 11 Retreat was an enjoyable experience for all. It was a good experience and so well resourced. Everyone who went most certainly made new connections and learnt something new about someone else.
This retreat was a great way to start off what will be a challenging but amazing two years.