On Wednesday, 7th May 2025 , we were thrilled to welcome back the students and teachers of Hillcrest Christian College to The Summit! Excitement filled the air as students hopped off the buses and were shown to their accommodations. Once everyone had settled in, it was time to kick things off in the Lodge.
Welcome to Camp!
Coach Spinks opened the camp with a warm welcome, introducing the fantastic coaching team and setting the tone for an unforgettable experience. Coach Adam then revealed The Summit’s secret recipe for the best camp ever, our Five Keys :
- Have Fun , Enjoy the moment and make the most of every opportunity.
- Play All In , Give your best effort in everything you do.
- Make Lots of Mistakes , It’s how we learn and grow!
- Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable , Push past your limits.
- Don’t Go Home Wondering “What If” , Leave with no regrets.
Gearing Up for Adventure
We made our way to the stage, where Coaches Sam and Fran delivered a safety briefing on helmets and harnesses. Coach Timmay introduced our goal-setting strategy , designed to help students stretch their comfort zones:
- Target , What you know you can do.
- Stretch , What you think you can do.
- Super Stretch , What feels impossible but helps you grow.
With that mindset, students jumped into their first activity rotations.
Activity Highlights
Over the course of camp, tribes participated in a wide variety of exciting and challenging activities, including:
- Trust Games
- Jump Free
- Bag Blitz
- Snowy River Challenge
- Abseil
- Summit Window
- Inflatables
- Giant Swing
- Bush Challenge
Students also created tribe names , learned about free time areas , and were introduced to the camp tradition of GMICs , Great Moments in Camp , where campers write down and celebrate the awesome moments they witness throughout the experience.
Day Two — Focus, Fun & Mud!
Day two began with a powerful message about setting a morning intention , choosing to focus on what we can control to get the most out of the day.
After a high-energy game of Jockeys , students dived into three more activity rotations , showing resilience, courage, and determination, even through mixed weather conditions.
After lunch came the famous Monster Course . The first lap was tough and muddy, but the real surprise came afterward: the team that wins isn’t the fastest, but the one that improves the most on their second lap ! What a lesson in teamwork and perseverance.
Final Day — Gratitude & Going All In
As the final day arrived, Coach Spinks led a beautiful session on gratitude , encouraging students to reflect on the people and things they’re thankful for. The group then warmed up with a game of Finger Fencing before jumping into their final two activity rotations.
Before wrapping up, students were asked to vote for someone in their tribe who truly embodied the Five Keys throughout camp. These nine legends were rewarded with a thrilling hot lap in The Summit’s army tank , cheered on by their peers, an unforgettable end to an epic adventure!
Thank You, Hillcrest!
On behalf of Spinks, Milena, Adam, Fran, Elena, Cal, Paige, Yen, Enis, Sam, and Chris , we want to thank every student and teacher from Hillcrest Christian College for bringing your energy, courage, and incredible spirit to camp.
We hope you carry the lessons, memories, and friendships from The Summit with you throughout the year. Until next time, keep stretching those comfort zones!
Planning a school camp in Victoria? Download the School Information Pack or enquire for available dates.
