This article was written by Year 7 student, Lachlan Mar.
The beginning of a new school year can be a daunting and unnerving time, especially for students transitioning into secondary school. However, in the first three weeks at Wadhurst, there was already something to look forward to: Entering the Gates Camp (ETG).
Located at Barwon Heads, ETG was an opportunity for Year 7s to form new relationships, connect with the environment, work together in a team and, most importantly, have fun! Students participated in a range of activities including surfing and a coastal walk, and learnt about the importance of Community, Citizenship and Connections.
One of the principal purposes of ETG was to get to know other students and form new relationships. On the very first day, our House played a game where we had to sort ourselves into alphabetical order based on the starting letter of our names, without talking! This was a challenge, but we ended up learning the names of a few more of our peers.
Throughout the camp, there was also an emphasis on the three Cs: Community, Citizenship and Connections. To build a sense of community, we had House Culture time, where we conversed with other members of our House while learning more about them. The benefit of us wandering along the beach shore while doing this was to create an atmosphere that was less intimidating than a classroom; starting a discussion came naturally to all of us.
We practised being responsible citizens when it came to cooking dinner. Sitting around our ‘Trangia circle’, we patiently and sensibly learnt the art of camp cooking, working together in threes to produce meals of butter chicken and vegetable pasta.
After eating, we were responsible for washing and scrubbing our Trangia stoves until they were clean and shiny! Some of us were in utter disbelief when our Outdoor Education instructor taught us to rub our Trangias in dirt before scrubbing it all off for extra shine!
Entering the Gates Camp was an exciting experience which provided students with an approach to learning outside of the classroom. Whether it be the exhilarating activities, unique learning opportunities or freedom of being outdoors, there was something for everyone. With new friendships made and fond memories formed, ETG will certainly be a major stepping stone for our Wadhurst journey ahead!
