On June 4th, the Year 9 students and teachers of Charles La Trobe College rolled into The Summit with big energy and even bigger excitement. Before taking on the wild challenges ahead, they met their coaches, Mim and Adam, who introduced them to The Summit’s Five Keys , the values that would guide their camp journey:
The Five Keys
- Have Fun
- Play All In
- Make Lots of Mistakes
- Get Uncomfortable
- Don’t Go Home Wondering ‘What If’
Day One: Action Starts Now
With these guiding values in mind, the students jumped straight into their first challenge: the Spider’s Web initiative. The goal? To get the entire team through the web without touching it, requiring teamwork, strategy, and communication. The first attempt clocked in at 11 minutes… but given another shot, they crushed it in just 5 minutes. An awesome start!
Next came the group’s first taste of the high elements, the Sky Bridge. Suspended high above the ground, this wobbly walk tested balance, bravery, and nerves. Almost everyone gave it a go, stepping out of their comfort zones and embracing the challenge.
While that wrapped up their official activities for Day One, the evening wasn’t over. The teachers surprised everyone with a camp trivia night that was full of laughter, friendly competition, and a few unexpected questions!
Day Two: Setting Intentions and Stepping Up
The second day began with a sunrise full of promise, and a powerful morning intention session led by Coach Mim. Students were encouraged to enter the day with purpose: to decide how they wanted to show up for themselves, each other, and the activities ahead.
Although Coach Adam had wrapped up his time with the group, the students were introduced to a new coach, Enis, who brought fresh energy and support.
They kicked off the morning with a round of Jockeys to get the blood pumping, and then dove into the Snowy River Challenge. This muddy, multi-obstacle course tested their teamwork, communication, and resilience, finishing with a time of 41 minutes.
That team spirit carried into the next high-adrenaline activity: the Leap of Faith. Here, students climbed high and were given the choice to jump toward a suspended bar, or simply step off and trust the rope. Whether they soared or stood back, each student faced their fears with courage.
But the heights didn’t stop there. Next up was the Summit Window, a breathtaking 18-meter climb that rewarded climbers with panoramic views from the top. With the sun shining down, it was a moment many won’t forget.
After working up an appetite, the group was treated to delicious meatball wraps by The Summit’s catering crew, fueling up for the action-packed afternoon ahead.
The second half of the day kicked off with Inflatable City, a bounce-filled burst of fun featuring oversized soccer balls and a chaotic obstacle course. Then came the muddiest moment of all, The Monster Course. Cold, wet, and covered in mud, the students tackled two full laps of the course, not knowing the second lap was coming until they were already halfway through! The surprise revealed their true grit and strength.
And the result? A massive improvement time of 25 minutes and 27 seconds, a moment of pride for everyone involved.
That night, warm showers and a campfire brought well-earned comfort as the group reflected on their journey so far.
Final Day: Going Out Strong
The final morning of camp arrived, and while the students were tired and thinking of home, there was still a bit of adventure left to go.
First up was Jump Free, a 16-meter drop where each student had to step off the platform and trust the harness to lower them safely. The last challenge was the High Wire, where students became tightrope walkers, harnessed up and walking high above the ground, balancing with focus and determination.
To close camp, the group took part in a meaningful final vote:
The Heart of the Group award went to Abubakar , a student who showed care, kindness, and lifted others with encouragement all throughout camp.
The Hero of the Group award went to Sara , someone who faced every challenge head-on and gave it everything she had.
Thank You, Charles La Trobe!
On behalf of Coaches Mim, Adam, and Enis , and the entire Summit team, thank you for an amazing few days of courage, laughter, growth, and memories. You played all in, supported each other, and left camp with more strength than you came in with.
We wish you all the very best for the rest of the year, and remember, don’t go home wondering “what if.”
, The Summit Team
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