On the sunny afternoon of Wednesday, April 30th, the Year 8 students of Beaumaris Secondary College arrived at The Summit, ready to kick off an unforgettable three-day camp experience. After settling into their accommodations, the group gathered at the Lodge, where they met the coaching crew and teachers.
Coach Calarnee introduced everyone to the Five Keys of Camp — guiding principles that would shape their entire experience. The Five Keys are:
Before jumping into their activity rotations, students were given a tour of the Stage and key locations around the park. Matt and Fran demonstrated how to properly gear up with harnesses and helmets, and Calarnee introduced a powerful goal-setting framework — Target, Stretch, and Super Stretch — helping students break down challenges into achievable steps.
Each student then found their numbered spot, met their coach, and tackled a quick initiative challenge before diving into their first two of eight awesome activities:
To close out the first day, everyone regrouped at the Stage where Sam introduced a meaningful Summit tradition: GMICs (Great Moments In Camp) — handwritten compliments and affirmations to celebrate the special moments and efforts of others. After that, students received final instructions, enjoyed some free time, and got ready for the next big day.
Thursday began with a morning intentions session in the Lodge led by Spinks, focusing on the power of starting each day with purpose and clarity. After setting their goals, students headed down to the park for a fun round of Jockeys to get into a peak state, ready for three full rotations before lunch — and one more in the afternoon.
Then came the Monster Course — a legendary team obstacle challenge through 11 muddy, wild, and exciting obstacles:
Just as they thought they were finished, they learned they had to do it again — a second lap to push their limits, build resilience, and test their teamwork. The team with the most improved time between laps was crowned the winner. After all that mud and grit, students cleaned up, grabbed dinner, and wound down from an epic day.
The final day began quietly in the Lodge with tired faces and reflective hearts. Calarnee led a heartfelt Gratitude Session, reading out GMICs and guiding students through a moment of appreciation for their camp experience.
Before boarding the buses, students completed their final two rotations and had one last chance to reflect on their journey using the Rock, Stick, and Leaf strategy:
Each group then voted for a Values Winner — someone they felt truly embodied the Five Keys during camp. These legends were:
Celebrating Legends in Style
Being chosen as a Values Winner is no small thing, and a simple mention isn’t enough to recognize the effort and heart these students brought to camp. So, in true Summit style, we gave them a hot lap in our World War II Army Tank — while the rest of the camp watched in awe. It was a celebration to remember!
We also revealed the final scores for the Snowy River Challenge and the Monster Course, with teams giving it their all and showing amazing growth, grit, and teamwork.
Snowy River Challenge:
Monster Course Improvement Times:
A Huge Thank You
To all the students and staff from Beaumaris Secondary College — thank you for your energy, commitment, and willingness to jump in and play all in. You made this camp an incredible experience, and we hope you take the lessons and memories with you long after you leave The Summit.
Until next time!
— The Summit Team 🏕️✨
