Eltham College | The Summit Blog

When the Eltham College bus rolled through The Summit’s gates early Monday morning, the stadium practically shook with excitement. Students poured in buzzing with energy, and our coaches knew straight away this was going to be a week to remember. After dropping bags in the cabins, everyone gathered in the Stadium where the coaching team introduced The Summit’s Five Keys:

The Five Keys

Have Fun
Play All In
Make Lots of Mistakes
Get Uncomfortable
Don’t Go Home Wondering ‘What If’

A few ice-breaker games (including the lightning-fast Look Up, Look Down and the Tennis-Ball Challenge) helped everyone loosen up while learning about Target → Stretch → Super Stretch goal-setting.

Day 1 , Pushing Boundaries & Creating Tribe Identity

The first round of activities got straight into the action. Students soared through the trees on the Flying Fox, faced their nerves on the Abseil wall, and worked together during the Snowy River Challenge, navigating beams, bridges, and water obstacles as a team.

Later that afternoon, everyone participated in Tribe Identity, designing flags and chants to proudly represent their teams throughout the week. It was clear from the creativity on display that these groups were going to be something special.

Tribe Names:

The Chatterboxes
Goofy Aah People
The Goofy Gang
That’s Cold!

Each name had its own flair, personality, and backstory, and students carried their tribe spirit into everything they did.

Day 2 , Facing Fears & Playing All In

Tuesday began with a heartfelt video message from Kid President, setting the tone for a day of intentional effort. Despite the chilly weather, spirits were high as students embraced new challenges:

They soared on the Giant Swing, choosing their height and facing the drop with trembling hands and brave hearts. The Bush Challenge demanded teamwork and clear communication, while the Summit Window required a courageous lean out over a dizzying height. Meanwhile, in Laser Skirmish, students ducked, dodged, and strategized their way through a fast-paced, action-packed battlefield.

Laughter, encouragement, and a few nervous giggles echoed across the park, but every student gave it their all.

Day 3 , Trust, Strategy & Stepping Into the Unknown

Wednesday brought a slower pace, but no less intensity. Teams climbed The Summit’s Rock Wall, testing strength and technique on multiple difficulty routes. The Cave challenged everyone in a different way, moving through pitch blackness with only the voice of a teammate to guide them. Trust was everything.

At the High Wire, it wasn’t just about balance, it was about calming the mind and staying focused despite the wind and nerves. Orienteering provided a chance to explore the landscape while developing map-reading skills, and a new appreciation for just how big The Summit truly is.

The resilience and teamwork displayed during the day were truly commendable, and it was clear the students were growing, not just as individuals, but as tribes.

Day 4 , Leaps of Faith & Legendary Creatures

Thursday morning began with a reflection on legacy and impact, inspired by Beyoncé’s song “I Was Here.” Students were asked: How do you want to be remembered? , a powerful question that shaped the rest of their day.

They tackled the Leap of Faith, climbing a pole and jumping to a suspended bar high above the ground. Others faced their fears in Jump Free, leaping from The Summit’s 14-meter tower into the air. On the Inflatables, teams raced, tumbled, and laughed until they were breathless. During the Scavenger Hunt, they worked together to solve clues scattered across the entire park.

That afternoon, a surprise challenge arrived, an emergency call from Gumbuya World. Their magical creatures had escaped, and it was up to the Eltham teams to help rescue them. Dressed-up coaches and teachers (some more terrifying than others) posed as magical beings in hiding. It was a hilarious, high-energy group task that brought out teamwork, kindness, and quick thinking, Goofy Aah People stole the show in this one, leading their creature home with compassion and flair.

The Monster Course , Mud, Fire & Magic

Later that day, it was time for the event everyone had been hearing whispers about: The Monster Course.

This wasn’t your average obstacle run. The first lap demanded every ounce of grit the students had, crawling under cargo nets, navigating the tyre tunnel, acting out charades to unlock checkpoints, and hauling leaky buckets of water to fill a pipe riddled with holes. There were mud pits, ball pits, tyre stacks, team chants, and countless “YES YOU CAN” moments shouted across the course.

But just when they thought they were done… they were told: “Get ready for lap two.”

The twist? The winner wasn’t the fastest team, it was the tribe with the greatest improvement from their first lap. In the end, Goofy Aah People shaved a huge chunk of time off and walked away as Monster Course champions.

Day 5 , Final Challenges & Farewell

On the final morning, another Kid President video brought smiles and a moment to reflect. Students were asked to think about what they were grateful for, who had supported them during camp, and what kind of friend, teammate, or person they’d been throughout the week.

The last two activity rotations gave students a final chance to push themselves, and soak in every last second of The Summit experience.

Before boarding the bus, we gathered one last time at the stage to recognise greatness.

Each tribe voted for their Values Winner, someone who had embodied the Five Keys throughout the week. These legends were meant to be rewarded with a hot lap in our WWII army tank… until it broke down halfway! Still, the moment turned into a hilarious memory (and a great story to take home).

And the Values Winners Are:

Chatterboxes , Henry
Goofy Aah People , Reeva
Goofy Gang , Caspien
That’s Cold! , Olive

Competition Results

Bush Challenge:

22:27 , Goofy Gang
28:47 , That’s Cold!
34:48 , Chatterboxes
36:45 , Goofy Aah People

Snowy River Challenge:

13:20 , Goofy Gang
28:47 , That’s Cold!
32:38 , Chatterboxes
35:10 , Goofy Aah People

Scavenger Hunt:

360 , Goofy Aah People
260 , That’s Cold!
250 , Chatterboxes
200 , Goofy Gang

Magical Creatures:

108 , Goofy Aah People
102 , Goofy Gang
78 , That’s Cold!
70 , Chatterboxes

Monster Course Improvement Times:

+11:48 , Goofy Aah People
+10:00 , Chatterboxes
+7:40 , Goofy Gang
+6:57 , That’s Cold!

Thank You, Eltham College!

To Guy, the dedicated teachers, the inspiring Year 10 leaders, and every single student from Eltham College: thank you for an unforgettable week. Your energy, bravery, and spirit made this camp something truly special. Whether it was crawling through the Cave, flying through the air, or helping a teammate cross the finish line, you showed up. And we’ll remember that.

Until next time,