On the 25th of May, a bus full of enthusiastic Year 9 students from Mount Lilydale Mercy College rolled through The Summit gates, ready for an unforgettable adventure. After settling into their accommodation and enjoying lunch, the students met their coaching team—Mim, Spinks, Stevie, Summer, Simon, Lawrie, Will, Ebony, Ant, Monty, Liv, and Lucy—who would guide them through three days packed with challenge, growth, laughter, and plenty of unforgettable moments.
Before jumping into activities, students were introduced to The Summit’s Five Keys, the secret recipe to an epic camp experience:
Students also learned about our Target, Stretch, and Super Stretch goal-setting strategy, helping them break challenges into achievable steps while encouraging them to push beyond what they thought was possible.
With goals set and mindsets ready, the students launched straight into their Summit experience.
Across the camp, students challenged themselves through an incredible range of activities including:
Whether they were conquering fears at height, working together through team challenges, or learning to trust one another, the students embraced every opportunity to step outside their comfort zones.
As the day came to a close, each group put their creativity to the test and created their Tribe Names:
That evening, students participated in a powerful Belief and Mindset session. They explored the difference between limiting beliefs and empowering beliefs before physically breaking a wooden board that symbolised the mindset holding them back. It was an inspiring way to finish an action-packed first day.
Day Two began with a Morning Intention session led by Coach Simon, encouraging students to think about how they wanted to show up for the day ahead. With intentions set, everyone headed outside for a game of Jockeys before launching into six activity rotations across the day.
The students continued challenging themselves, supporting one another, and living out the Five Keys as they tackled everything The Summit had to offer.
Tuesday evening brought one of the highlights of camp—the legendary Night Monster Course.
At first, students thought they were simply racing against each other. However, they soon discovered that the true challenge wasn’t about being the fastest. The Monster Course is designed to teach resilience, teamwork, and the power of pushing beyond perceived limits.
After completing their first lap, students were challenged to tackle the course again. The goal? Achieve the biggest improvement time between laps.
Mud-covered, determined, and full of energy, the students dug deep and discovered they were capable of far more than they initially believed.
As the final morning arrived, Coach Lucy led a meaningful Gratitude session, encouraging students to reflect on the people, experiences, and opportunities they are thankful for. It was a wonderful chance to slow down and appreciate the journey they had shared together.
After a fun game of Rock Paper Scissors Chant, students completed their final activity rotations before coming together to celebrate the people who had truly embodied The Summit’s values.
Each tribe voted for a Values Winner—someone who consistently demonstrated the Five Keys throughout camp through courage, participation, teamwork, positivity, and support of others. These students received a medal to recognise their outstanding contribution.
🏅 Values Winners:
The coaching team also awarded several students with the coveted Limitless Golden Ticket, recognising exceptional leadership, enthusiasm, participation, and teamwork. These students earned a guaranteed place at an upcoming Summit Leadership Camp.
🏆 Snowy River Challenge (fastest times):
💪 Monster Course – Improved by:
What an incredible few days of courage, teamwork, resilience, and fun. From tackling towering heights and muddy obstacles to supporting one another through every challenge, the Year 9 students showed exactly what it means to Play All In.
On behalf of Coaches Mim, Spinks, Stevie, Summer, Simon, Lawrie, Will, Ebony, Ant, Monty, Liv, and Lucy, thank you for bringing such fantastic energy to camp. We loved watching your confidence grow, your friendships strengthen, and your willingness to embrace every opportunity that came your way.
Keep challenging yourselves, keep backing each other, and most importantly—don’t go home wondering “What If.”
– The Summit Coaching Team
