Year 10 West Wānaka Camp

As part of our new Year 10 camp initiative - which includes a service activity, a challenging walk, and a feature experience - our students headed to West Wānaka this week for an unforgettable few days based at Glendhu Bay. This was our first time running this version of the camp, and it made for a valuable few days away.

We kicked things off on Tuesday with the iconic climb up Mount Roy. Students pushed themselves on the steep ascent and were rewarded with stunning views over Lake Wānaka before heading down to set up camp at Glendhu Bay.

Wednesday was our feature activity day. We met our rock climbing instructors out at the Hospital Flat car park, where students took on a range of climbs and bravely stepped over the edge to abseil down the cliff. Their courage, teamwork, and support for one another were outstanding.

In the afternoon, we travelled into Wānaka to contribute to our service activity with Te Kākano, a local community-based nursery and restoration trust. Students spent time mulching native plants near Lismore Park, learning about the importance of ecological restoration and giving back to the local environment.

Thursday began with a bit of rain, meaning we had to reshuffle our paddleboarding plans. Instead, we visited Puzzling World, which was a hit, before heading out to Diamond Lake once the weather cleared for a beautiful afternoon walk.

It was an amazing camp with a fantastic group of young people. There was plenty of bonding, learning, challenge, and fun - a real pleasure to be part of.

A huge thank you to our parent helpers Ryan Hannagan and Richard Forbes for joining us, and to Craig Earl for generously giving up his time to support the trip.

We are already looking forward to next year’s adventure!