What a treat the Year 4 camp at Kyneton was. It was indeed sad for the children that the camp was cut short due to weather recommendations in the area from the authorities; however, we packed an enormous amount of fun and growth into the two days and one night they were away for.
First, I would like to thank the Year 4 parents and the school team for the enormous amount of support received during the change in plans. The way everyone pulled together as a team to keep all our children safe was professional and caring, displaying all the qualities of safety, dignity and belonging that we ask of everyone at the College.
Thank you to the parents who came to camp. Some parents even took annual leave to help us. The logistics in today’s world of running camps means we need parental support, and the parents who came were invaluable in their assistance.
Thank you to the staff who spent many extra hours organising the camp so everyone could have a good time and thank you for taking time out from your own families to care for our community.
During the camp Mr Haworth gave a devotion that summed up what we were asking of the children for their first overnight school camp experience. It may be helpful to go over this again with your children.
G - God’s Strength:
First, remember that we always have God’s strength with us. In the Bible, Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” This means that when we face challenges, we can remember that God is with us, giving us the strength to overcome them. As a little seed grows into a big tree with water and sunlight, we can grow stronger with God’s help.
R - Resilience:
Next, let’s talk about resilience. Resilience means bouncing back even when things get tough. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” This means that when we face challenges, it’s an opportunity for us to become stronger and more mature in our faith. Just like a plant bends in the wind but doesn’t break, we can learn to bend with challenges and grow stronger because of them.
O - Opportunity for Learning:
Now, let’s look at challenges as opportunities for learning. Proverbs 3:5-6 6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” When we face challenges, we can trust that God is teaching us something important. We can learn new skills, gain wisdom and grow closer to God through these experiences. Just like how we succeed in school, challenges can be our teachers, too.
W - Walking with God:
Lastly, remember the importance of walking with God through every challenge. In Joshua 1:9, it says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” When we face challenges, we don’t have to face them alone. God is always with us, guiding us and giving us courage. Like how we hold our parent’s hand when crossing the street, we can hold God’s hand as we walk through challenges.
Conclusion:
So, remember, when faced with challenges, let’s GROW with God’s strength, resilience, and guidance. Challenges can be tricky, but they allow us to learn and strengthen our faith. Let’s embrace challenges, knowing that God is always with us, helping us every step of the way. Amen.
We saw the students grow in all sorts of areas, from trying different foods to sleeping away from home for the first time to challenging themselves on the possum glider! We asked some of the children what they thought:
“I like the activities. The flying fox, possum glider and aero ball were my favourite. I like the cabins because the beds were comfortable and the teachers would always check on us. I'm looking forward to going on camp again in Year 5.”
“The cabins were nice and I liked the food. The activities were fun and challenging. I saw another side of myself. I made more friends and even though it was cut short, I had so much fun."
“My favourite bit was the flying fox because I was first thinking that I wouldn't do it as it looked scary, but I ended up doing it and it wasn't as scary as I thought. When I saw all of my friends doing it and they said it wasn't scary, I had a go. I loved the food, my favourite meal was breakfast.”
“Camp was really fun, I loved doing the activities with my friends. Some activities were challenging which I really enjoyed. One of the challenging activities was called centipede. They were some long poles attached together hanging in the sky, you had to try and climb up them. I liked spending time with my friends and I also enjoyed the food at camp.”
Camps at school are an important milestone, memory makers and generally a time for students and staff to grow and interact in a different environment. Thank you for entrusting your children with us so they can enjoy these times.
Years 5 and 6 camps will be later in the year which we are already looking forward to. If you would like to know more about our Werribee Primary camps we have a new brochure available you can receive from your Head of Learning Module.