year 7 Camp

Camp

On the first day of camp the bus took us to Waimarino water park. 7RW and 7DH was going to spend the rest of the day there. My group aka “Thunder Chickens” (Ethan, Cole, Dad and I) started at low ropes course, everyone in my team completed the course and Ethan did it blind folded. We then moved straight to the water. We had to do a swim before we were allowed to jump from the high dive  board. I was first to jump. My team then went from the dive board to the swing and then to the slide. We then went back and forwards between each of these things for the rest of the morning. Lunch was next, then after lunch we hopped into some kayaks. we learned how to raft up and we played games on the river while in the kayaks. One of the adults sunk one while walking around on them. After the kayaks it was free time and I went back to the high dive board and did a backflip off the top. The best instructor Matt showed me how to do this. After we had finished up we hopped back on the bus and headed for the camp ground at Papamoa .

Tuesday started with breakfast, I had Rice bubbles and spaghetti on toast, We then hopped on the bus and headed for abseiling at Te Puna quarry park. Nicole had to demo how to use the safety gear, I was next to put on the gear and abseil down the quarry wall. Dad  also had to put gear on so he could lean over the wall to take photos. When I started to abseil I looked over the top,It was the scariest moment at camp. I got over that and liked it so much that I even went to have a second go. After we had all had a turn the bus picked us up and we went to the Rock hop. When we got to the river the guide talked to us about what we were going to do and what we had to wear. We started off by jumping 5 metres into the cold water. When everyone was in the water we started to swim down the river over and around some rocks as we went. We were at the front of the group with the guide named Dean. It was cool to be at the front, Deen show and talked to us all the way. As we made our way down the river we were able to jump into about 6 different waterholes. We were in the river for about 2 hours before we had to climb out the go and find the bus, so we could head back to camp for showers and dinner.

Wednesday -  We started off by getting our gear ready then we went to breakfast. For breakfast we had the same as yesterday.  When we had finished our breakfast we numbered off and jumped on to the bus to go to Mount Maunganui Surf Club for beach education.  During beach ed we watched a video about surf lifesaving.  We then looked at all of the surf safety rules and then learnt the sunsmart rap, which I already knew.  Following that we headed outside and looked at the vehicles that they use on the beach and checked out the gear shed where we saw a replica of Ali Days knee board.  We were then taken upstairs to look at the first aid room and went into the tower.  After lunch we got into our wetsuits and headed down to Shark Alley and raced our classmates in wading, duck diving and body surfing.  

After a busy day we went to Baywave where we had a great time.  We spent time in the wave pool first and had a go on the hydroslide it was fun because we could go down two at a time so we could race each other, Brodie and I went down at the same time it was fun. When our time was up on the  hydroslide the instructor then opened the Pirate ship. The Pirate ship had  dive board that we could jump off into the wave pool. I jumped about 10 times before it was then closed. We then had to go and get changed to catch the bus back to camp.

When we arrived back at camp we had nachos for dinner before going down to the beach to play beach flags. While the girls had their beach flag competition the boys could play rugby or cricket. Then it was our turn for beach flags, I made it through to the finals. The final girls and final boys then went turnabout until there was only 2 boys and 2 girls left. The top 2 girls then run off and Greta won the girl competition and I was up against George. I won the Boys competition. Then I had to run off against Greta, I only just beat her to the flag, that made me the overall winner. We then headed back to camp for bedtime.

Thursday - Thursday morning came along, I had Rice bubbles and spaghetti on toast, the same as the other mornings. after breakfast we jump onto the bus and head for the Mount Maunganui to go Stand up paddle boarding. But this morning was different for me as I was not staying with the class today. I was going to the New Zealand Surf Life Saving nationals, Where I was competing for Whangamata. I competed all day before the bus picked me up at the the end of the day before heading back to camp.

We had a early dinner and then got ready to head to the night kayaking and see some glow worms. The glow worms were like little glowing lights the size of the head of a match stick. You could only see them when it got dark. After the glow worms and kayaking was finished Mum picked me up so I could go back to the NZSLS comp in the morning and Dad stayed at camp to clean up for me.