When the 19 adventurers from Mallacoota P-12 College rolled in on Tuesday 10 June, they’d already beaten a long-haul bus ride, but their real journey was just beginning!
Day 1 , First Flights & Inflatable Fights
- Welcome fuel: crispy chicken tenders (the perfect road-trip recovery).
- Meet the coaches: Calarnee and Franziska, extra-special for Fran, who was finishing her volunteering stint from Germany.
- The Summit’s 5 Keys set the tone: Have Fun • Play All In • Make Mistakes • Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable • Don’t Go Home Wondering “What If…”
With helmets fitted and nerves buzzing, everyone:
- Soared down the Flying Fox , wind in hair, lake beneath their feet.
- Bounced through Inflatable City , racing head-to-head on the obstacle course.
Trivia by torchlight rounded out the evening before well-earned sleep.
Day 2 , Intentions, New Heights & Laser Battles
Coach Cal kicked off the morning with the STATE Triangle (how physiology, language & focus shape the way we show up) and the Target → Stretch → Super Stretch goal-setting ladder.
Warm-up: “Finger Fencing” had everyone laughing and moving.
The students split into two brand-new tribes, The Geckos and The Golden Goats , and rotated through:
- High Wire , tight-rope teamwork high in the treetops.
- Cave Experience , total darkness, trust, and navigation by feel.
- Leap of Faith , a bar-grabbing plunge into bravery.
- Laser Skirmish , stealth, strategy, and bragging rights.
- Summit Window , 360° views from the tallest tower, lean-back challenge included!
- Snakes & Nails , meeting Hercules the black-headed python and walking the nail board.
Evening ended with a larger-than-life game of human Noughts & Crosses.
Day 3 , Gratitude, Bush Bonds & the Monster Course
Fran opened with a gratitude circle, reminding everyone to notice the little things. Then it was time to start our day, finishing our last round of activities and then starting our new set:
- Jump Free , free-falling off Timmay’s Tower.
- Bush Challenge , teamwork obstacles in the forest.
Then a tribe tug-of-war and a water-balloon skirmish primed everyone for the legendary Monster Course . After lap one the crew discovered… surprise, you’re doing it twice! Mud, resilience, huge improvement times, even bigger cheers.
Day 4 , Giant Swings & Farewells
Fran opened with a gratitude circle, reminding everyone to notice the little things. Then it was time to start our Cal’s final huddle: “Make the most of this last moment.” Then it was off to the Giant Swing, pairs choosing red, yellow, or green height to finish camp literally on a high.
Medals were awarded to the Values Winners (one from each tribe who lived the 5 Keys all camp), and the whole group roared as they took a celebratory spin in The Summit’s WWII Army Tank.
And the Values Winners Are:
- Golden Goats , Isla + Amelia
- Geckos , Shelby
Competition Results
Bush Challenge:
- 19:30 , Geckos
- 21:29 , Golden Goats
Monster Course Improvement Times:
- +10:03 , Golden Goats
- +9:05 , Geckos
Coach Shout-Outs , GMICs (Great Moments In Camp)
Thank You, Mallacoota P-12 College!
From coaches Cal and Fran:
Your energy, trust, and willingness to push past comfort zones made our final program together unforgettable. Keep using the Five Keys, and never stop asking, ‘What else can I do?’
Safe travels home, we can’t wait to see the amazing things you’ll tackle next!
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