Year 8 Camp

This year the Norm Rix camp trophy was introduced to Year 8. Norm Rix is a Gold Coast developer whose generosity helped us start the Pimpama campus. The house with the most points at the end of camp would win the trophy.

Camp was enjoyed by everyone with new and different activities to challenge us and expand our thinking. The low ropes challenged our teamwork and helped with our team initiative. We later found out that the low ropes course was only the first challenge, as the next activity, high ropes was like the low ropes, but 12 metres in the air! A flying fox was attached at the end to give an extra challenge. Kayaking in the dam turned into a swim in the sweltering heat when one kayak capsized. Archery was followed with a bike-ride where we got to choose between a mountain bike and BMX.

The main event was the camp out. Over the two nights both the boys and girls hiked to a campsite separately, one night each. We put up our own tents, cooked our own food, and started our own fires. That night we had a session of gold-digging where we would point out the gold or good things someone did. In the morning, we packed up and set out to go rock-hopping in the creek.

Devotions on the first night was an inspiring night of worship. That night, forty students recommitted or gave their lives to Jesus. During the girls’ devotions, Tessa spoke to us about shedding all of the stuff we don’t need to carry and to give it to God. Shame, fear and other sinful worries were placed on the cross by almost everyone.

In the end the Norm Rix trophy was given to Tyndale. Originally it was a tie between Finney and Tyndale but there could only be one winner. The fastest person from Finney and Tyndale would have a race: first to the finish line wins the trophy! Brent and Bailee-Anne ran the 100 metre sprint. Bailee-Anne won making Tyndale the champion house and winners of the Norm Rix cup for the Year 8 camp.

- Natalie Hocking, Year 8