Last week on the 22nd of November the Yr 6 students, Teachers and Parent helpers went to Camp Bentzon on Kawau island for the annual year 6 camp. Where we explore, try new things and gain more confidence. The different groups in camp were Bentzon, Mansion, Kawau and Katz.I was in Mansion and the adults in charge were Mr. Hughes and Miss Haare.
Last week on Tuesday was the day when we were going to Kawau island. By the time I got to school, most of the Yr 6’s were in the hall waiting. While waiting we watched a movie for about 30 minutes before we got on the bus, heading towards Sandspit where the ferry is parked. About 1 hour and 30 mins after riding on the bus, we got off and all of us started helping to carry all the bags to the ferry. We got on the ferry and some of the students were seated up top while myself and others were seated on the bottom floor of the ferry. While on the ferry, we got to see the famous Mansion House before we got to our destination. We got off the ferry and carried bags to the cabin. After all of that, we finally got to eat our morning tea.. then went to our cabins to get started unpacking our things. Later we were called down with our day bags to go hike the killer hill. It was quite tiring. We got to the rock monument where Taisha put a rock to symbolize our visit. Then we started hiking again. When we got there, Mr. Jacobson showed us a beautiful view and told us some of the history of Kawau Island. We proceeded to hike and reached the final place where there was a private property and a play-set. We also threw some rocks playing against Mr.Somerville. After an hour we headed back to the campsite when it started raining. Some of the students and teachers ended up having to cross a river because it was raining so hard, and in the end we all got wet. Later we had dinner and changed into our pyjamas to watch a movie called ‘’ THE PRINCESS BRIDE’, Mr Jacobsen’s favorite movie of all time. After the movie, we went to sleep.
On the 2nd day we woke up on a rainy morning. My cabin was all awake before me. Later we now heard Mr, Jacobsen’s bugle and rush down stairs to have breakfast, While having breakfast they told us what we are gonna be doing this day Kawau and Katz are going to be doing outdoor activities like abseiling, orienteering and more while Mansion and Bentzon have water activities including kayaking , sailing and more. I was in the Mansion so after getting dressed up in the proper clothes we headed downstairs to the deck and sat down with our group and wait for Mr. Somerville to tell what the first rotation we would be doing . My group Mansion B went Bivouac first where we need to build shelter and test if it is waterproof we started building our hut, it was a girl vs boys thing but unfortunately we lost from the boys, we ended early so we used our time to practice our chants .After we head back to the main area to have morning tea next it was time for sailing. We went to the boat shed and met Chris, the instructor who will be teaching us to sail. Afterwards, we got our boat ready in the ocean and suddenly the wind was awfully strong. While we were out off the shore we lost control of the sail. My partner Leata started crying while I was screaming for help when a lady named Erin approached us and told us how to get in land safely. Leata and I got there safely as well as the other teams and that was the end of sailing for us, we got back to the main area to have lunch. After we proceeded to our next activity raft building the rules again were boys vs girls but it was a fail when the rain swoop in and while one of the boys sabotaged our raft and for that we didn’t successfully made a raft except for Taisha she made a raft but it falls apart when it got to the ocean.after that we got our afternoon tea and proceeded to our last activity for the day kayaking we got Erin teaching us how to use our paddles and demonstrating how to properly seat in inside the kayak when we are all ready we did some games and kayak to the middle of the ocean, after we tidy up. Then the bugle was played so we went to the deck where Mr, Somerville and Mr. Jacobsen told us there would be swimming and bombing of the wharf after about 20 minutes the time ended all of us quickly had a shower and proceeded to dinner. After dinner we had some free out in the area a few minutes we were called out to the deck where Mr. Somerville told us we were gonna play spotlight before we head to bed. while playing spotlight! I never had a chance to reach the deck while playing some rounds. I got caught after playing. it was off to bed.
For our 3rd day, We woke up and headed down like usual and got breakfast, dressed in proper clothes. And proceed to our rotations. Our first rotation for the day was orienteering well since it was raining we played games inside the Dale Riddish room instead, then it was time for morning tea after eating we gathered around the deck for Mr. Somerville for our second rotation. The next rotation for my group is Abseiling. We headed up to our destination, the abseiling wall. We met this guy called Ed, who is our instructor for abseiling. He told us everything we needed to know to climb the wall. After we were told who was going last and first, Leata went first then Taisha , Me , Leka/ Atelea , Tomasi and lastly Willy after a few minutes past we were done we headed back done for lunch and proceeded to our third activity Burma trail. We had our blindfolds on and were ready to get started a few minutes past by. We finally reached the finish line. We headed to the barbecue area and played some games until it was our last rotation. The confidence course we started the course hugged your mama then the tyres , the slap lines and lastly the part where you cross a rope.We finished and headed back to the main area.Mr, Somerville told us there would be swimming and bombing of the wharf like yesterday i stayed in the ocean for like 15 minutes i got out so i can still have a shower early before its full. After taking a shower and getting dressed up we had free time before we got called to mention there would be practice for our chants because later night would be a camp concert. A few minutes after the time was up we got back to the deck for instruction. And we were sent off to our cabins to get dressed for the concert after getting dressed we head to the dale reddish room and sat down with our group a few minutes past by Mr. Somerville showed up with a piece of paper that contains all the people with awards and the group who will be presenting first The Mansion went first and we killed it then it was Kawau,Bentzon and lastly Katz. We also gave awards to all the teachers,student helpers and former Pt England students.After we were sent to our cabins to get change in our pyjamas and head down to brush our teeth after we went back again to the Dale Riddish room with our toothbrush to say goodnight and after it was bedtime.
My favourite Activity was Kayaking. It was fun and awesome, especially when you fall out of the kayak and the games .
I enjoyed all the fun activities we did in camp. Especially the times I got scared at doing things but ended up still doing it. I created so many memories that made my year better. I gained more confidence in this camp and made more friends.
