Non Duke of Edinburgh
For the year 10 non-duke of Edinburgh program, a large range of fellow students and I took part in a 5-day camp across the coast of Wollongong and Kiama. With Rain Jackets equipped, and the weather against us, year 10 would be handed over to the friendly smiles of the Somerset staff. Despite the wet start, and a couple postponed events, each group would use the first day as a time for bonding, laughing as they ran across the beach, drenched from head to toe. Year 10 enjoyed the flexible style of the camp, allowing each student to push themselves at their own pace. The hikes became less of getting from A to B and more of views and laughter of the journey, the blow holes and lighthouse that we stopped at. Word would go around about the stories of the other groups, stories of capsized canoes, of teachers surfing, or of Mr Horn rapping the highlights of each day. Every time we hopped on a bike, picked up a surfboard, climbed into a canoe, traversed the coast or looked towards the water’s horizon, we would be struck by the beauty of God’s creation, in which Year 10 will forever be grateful for the memories we made.
Duke of Edinburgh
The start of the week began with less-than-ideal conditions. The first day brought heavy rain, and despite the weather, we still needed to set up our tents and prepare for dinner. Many of us hadn’t packed sufficiently warm clothing, so we quickly learned the importance of resilience and resourcefulness that night. Even though our tents were soaked, our clothes were wet, and everyone was already exhausted, we all pushed through and got our tasks done. We supported one another, shared what we had, and managed to stay positive despite the circumstances. By the next morning, the rain had eased, a little bit, and we were able to continue our journey with a renewed sense of determination.
On the flip side, some of the main highlights across the week was our surfing session on Friday and the beautiful coastal walk on Monday. Surfing on Friday was great since the sun was out, spirits were high, and everyone was enjoying learning a new skill they probably hadn’t learnt before. The coastal walk on the first day of camp to our campsite was challenging and quite windy, but the great views in return were amazing and something, I think, all of us appreciated.
Overall, the Duke of Ed Silver camp taught us how to make the most of every situation, to stay positive in the face of setbacks, and to persevere no matter the conditions. It was an unforgettable experience that showed us the true value of resilience, teamwork, and reflection.
