I recently had the great pleasure of accompanying our year 4, 5 and 6 students to the Great Aussie Bush Camp situated near Kincumber. I estimate that over the years I have been on over 20 college camps. I particularly enjoy camps where the students are pushed – ‘pushed’ just enough for it to be uncomfortable for them, but not so far that they’re actually overly fearful. I’ve always thought that when we take on a genuine challenge there are likely to be risks, we must be able to calculate what those risks might be, then to weigh them up against the potential gains. I believe that we must endeavour to push our comfort zones, expand on our experiences and build self-confidence. It was therefore particularly gratifying to witness our students being challenged and supported in a very positive manner. The instructors at The Great Aussie Bush Camp are skilled and experienced individuals who are well trained and, pleasingly, their approach to safety is possibly the best that I have ever experienced anywhere.
Our sixty plus students were divided into three groups of about twenty in each with a mixture of students from the different classes. Each group had an instructor and a teacher or coach from our college. For most of the time I was together with just the one group, although I did sneak over a couple of times to check out how particular students were fairing in the other two groups. My group, Group Three, had a young instructor, Ryan, a no-nonsense fellow who worked hard to ensure there was an ethic of positivity and supportiveness within the group.
One of the first things that Ryan did was to stand and draw a circle on the ground around himself with a stick, this he called his ‘Comfort Zone’. He told our students that the things that he felt at ease doing lay within this zone, he asked them about the sorts of things that they felt comfortable doing – eating, talking and playing football all rated a mention. Ryan explained that being at The Great Aussie Bush Camp would provide each one of them with the opportunity to expand their own comfort zone so that their own circle would and could become larger. I gleefully observed and participated in the activities offered over our three days at the camp.
At the debrief, shortly before we departed camp on the Friday afternoon, our students were asked if they felt that they had expanded their comfort zone circle, and I’m pleased to say the response was unanimous! I believe that we will be returning to this excellent venue for many years to come.
Finally, I must add that the behaviour of our students on camp was exemplary, they did themselves, their families and IFS proud; we were told that we are welcome to return anytime.
I’ve attached a few photos from a couple of the activities, one of which was called: ‘The Lost Island.’ You will notice that it was a kind of boot camp in the mud activity, which our students loved. Can you recognise any familiar faces behind the mud-makeup?
Regards,
Rodney
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