Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Thank You Parents

Kia Ora  everyone,

We are here to say a huge thank you to all the amazing parents who went to camp [ Totara Springs ] with us big seniors.  Thank you for being at our side and rescuing us from heaps of terrifying activities and encouraging us to do our best when we are about to do something scary.   Thanks for being our cabin caretakers, showing us around and telling us what to do.

We appreciated how you showed us interesting things, what they are used for and how to use them like kayaking, archery, slug shooting and abseiling.   Thanks for guiding us through the ups and downs and the times we said "I can't do it!!"...   You said to us "There's no such thing as can't".  Thanks for giving us gold, silver and bronze medals when we worked together in our groups at the activities.

We really appreciated your help and generosity to come to camp with us and we hope we see you again next time. 

By Hannah and Kaitlin
Room 6


Saturday, May 26, 2012

More Camp To Come ....

Thanks everyone for the positive comments and feedback we received from everyone while we were away at Totara Springs, we really appreciated it.

Please keep on visiting our camp blog over the next few weeks as the year 5 and 6 students continue to add their camp experiences and learning to it.

We have lots more images and videos of everyone in action .....

Thanks
Mrs Pittaway

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Raft Building in the Fog

Australia was our last group to experience the early morning challenge of raft building but instead of white icy grass they were greeted with the "fog" that was going to stay with us all day.

This is enough of a challenge to have to create your own raft and float it down the freezing cold river, but add to that the last day of camp, over-tired bodies that are not used to experiencing three very physical days .... spirits were a little low for some. 

This was not going to stop Australia from achieve "Gold" medals for all 4 success criteria - here are few photos to show you them in action.
Raft Building in the Fog....

All balanced carefully and about to head off!!!

Or are they????

Add caption

"Our raft!!!"

No that's called determination - off to catch the raft and sole paddle ....





Warming up in the pool after raft building



Day 4 - Last Morning


Last morning of camp and we have woken up to a blanket of fog over Totara Springs so added a different feel to our camp.

Didn’t stop of our boys from there usual 5.00am wake-up – those Dads deserve a gold medal!!!

Just  a few shots of this morning take note of the boys cabins – lots and lots of happy noise, outside playing handball …..

Girls cabin – lights on, no-one to be found – are they up????

Fog does not dampen a game of handball!!!

Who's that peeping from around the corner!!!!

Girls cabins - not a soul in sight!!


Pea Soup

More pea soup!!!

Day 3 - Group Highlights

Slideshows to follow - photos are uploading all takes a little while when you are away from the big smoke!!!!














 

 









 

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Day 3 - Camp Highlights

Everyone was pretty relaxed today, knew where to go and were well prepared for the challenges.  We were really lucky to have a Mrs Callister come and visit us for the day and watch us all in action ...

This is all the crew before we set off for our afternoon activity. Notice the tree, just like our blog background.
EVERYONE!!!!


Day 3 - Camp Highlights on PhotoPeach

Day 3 - Diary Writing - England

Hi diary!

“Owww!” My feet are freezing, and my nose is RED! We had to go raft building first thing in the morning. And my feet were REALLY numb - but we still did it. When you stepped on the frosty grass, your heart beats faster then ever!! There’s frozen ice on the grass, and the grass doesn’t even look green, it’s as white as fluffy sheep wool!! I couldn’t believe my eyes!

When we had made our rafts, we got it into the water then we hopped into our raft. My brain froze! I couldn’t do any thing, but paddle. I could hear the parents on the side trumpeting loudly and cheering for us. That’s when we felt so confident, so I told my group not to worry and keep paddling.

We made it to the end!  Hooray!

Our next activity was archery, it was so… fun.    I got a bull’s eye but it bounced off. I was devastated!  At least I some of the rest of the team got some bull’s eyes!

Well I have to go diary off to the hydroslide!

CATCH  YA  LATER!
TALIA - ENGLAND!

Day 3 - Totara Springs


A repeat of day 1 and 2 – thank you !!!!

Off to another brilliant start, Mr Morton is doing an amazing job with our “grace” before all meals, just finished morning tea in the sun and off to our 2nd activity for the day.  Our raft builders and kayakers all deserve gold medals for braving the yet again icy conditions down at the river.


Day Two - Camp Highlights

There are sooooo many highlights to choose from but here are just a few ....


Day 2 - Camp Highlights on PhotoPeach

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Stars and Stripes

USA we are so... excited for camp. We are going to try our very best to win the gold medals and to win the prizes.   Our activity groups are based on the 2012 Olympics GO USA !!!!!

Hannah, Kadison, Nida, Mykie, Gary, Alex, Najae, Joel, Alex, Danielle and Estrella

GO ENGLAND GO! GO ENGLAND GO!

Our WONDERFUL group is so... EXCITED about camp!

We are crossing our fingers and hoping the week will go well.  We hope you like our pictures.  Our camp is based on the 2012 Olympics, so our group will have a red cross on our hands, representing E N G L A N D ! We will try our very best, to do what we have been learning from the teachers over the past few weeks! And we'll most importantly have FUN!!

GO ENGLAND GO! GO ENGLAND GO!
Talia,  Melissa, Krissy, Dillan, Jacob, Samuel, Baxter, Kalani, Silvie, Alyse and Karen






Raft Building, Kayaking, Abseiling


We have been thoroughly spoilt rotten with the amazing weather today.  This started off pretty brisk for our kayakers and raft builders down at the back of the camping ground where the sun does not arrive until midday.  Fortunately for the activity groups in the afternoon the day could not have been better!!!

Lots of challenges today, initial reluctance at the abseiling tower and after one or two had a go the rest followed like sheep.  The smiles as their feet landed made it all the worth while.

Raft building was an problem solvers dream - rubber rings, rope, bamboo and lots of kiwi ingenuity resulted in some pretty amazing vessels float down the chilly river.  

Dinner is being served - so time to log off ....

Day 2 - Raft Building - South Africa on PhotoPeach Abseiling - New Zealand Day 2 on PhotoPeach Day 2 - Kayaking - New Zealand on PhotoPeach

Day 1 - Diary Writing

Today was okay but we had to driver here, so that was abit of a bore, but it’s really cool to see Totara Springs.  It’s 3.45pm and we’re supposed to be on free time.

I’m going on the HYDROSLIDE in free time and in the HOT POOLS…

I can’t wait for tomorrow because are going GO-KARTING!!!

By Jemma B
New Zealand


This morning my mum and I arrived at school with my bags and we put them on the bus.  My mum said goodbye to me and we left for camp.

It was a 2 ½ hour drive but I really enjoyed it.  Finally we got into our cabin.  Next we had a tour around the whole of the camp ground.  It looked amazing.  We’re going to have dinner soon and I can’t wait for tomorrow.

By Sophie d
China

Free time Day 1 and 2

Free time is the best at Totara Springs - have a look at our hydroslide, slide show .....
Freetime Day 1 and 2 on PhotoPeach

Day 2 - Diary Time - Australia


Today I was so tired because I stayed up to 1am and woke up at 6 am…. I just couldn’t sleep I was soooo excited for the next day.

This morning my group and I “Australia” went to absailing -  it was freaky, I was so scared and nervous to go on.  First my friends went on then finally it was my turn, I started walking up the steers, before I knew it I was at the top, I was so high… then I looked at the man it was my turn.

The man told me simple steps about how to get down the wall, so I listened to him, I started leaning.   He told me to take a step, I did then I fell against the wall.  He helped me up and I started again.   The harness felt really tight around my waist and when I started to move of the top of the tower it felt quite sore.

Jumping Jack in Action
My group called me “Jumping Jack” because as I got to the end of started pushing my legs against the wood and jumping backward and forwards.

It was really pleased with myself and glad that I had taken a risk it made me feel really brave – I couldn’t believe I did it!!!!!

From
Jack R
Room 7


This Our Florence Nightingale

We can't do without Mrs Gordon, she has been a busy beaver all camp making sure everyone is taking their medication.  What a mission Mrs Gordon  ....

Three cheers for Mrs G
Such a beautiful morning! Sun is shining and not a cloud in the sky... but that didn't stop an early bird wake-up by year 5 and 6 kids.  Ice on the playground, lullaby swing and grass all added to the fun.

Off to our first activity, not a cloud in the sky.

Pictures to come, very slow to upload :)

Monday, May 21, 2012

Top Town Sports at Totara Springs

Fun and excitement and countries competed against one another in the Top Town Olympics.

Gunboot throwing
Wheel barrow races
Human letters
Human hoopla
Bucket Ball

to name a few events were all contested with enthusiasm ... By the end all were rather worn out children and parents. Results to be posted tomorrow !!!

 \

Dinner Time - Day 1

Mr Morton lead us in a vibrant version of “grace” before we enjoyed our tasty dinner. Sheppards pie, cinnamon doughnuts and lashings of icecream - if you went back for seconds like many did and some even went for thirds. Don’t our parents look great serving meals ……

Our First Lunch Stop

All things considered we did pretty well as we journeyed south this morning.  A couple of changes in seats for bus 1 to avoid any accidents and unfortunately for bus 2 they were not quite so lucky.

We arrived at noon to beautiful sunshine, autumn colours everywhere and boy were they excited.....

Lunch was eaten in "The Pitt" and for some, cabins were sorted and for others it meant an opportunity to do some investigating.

After lunch we had our safety talk in the lecture room with the slopey floor and then we were off on our safety orientation walk.


Racing Kiwirail .....


Lunch in "The Pitt"

 

Autumn at Totara Springs


 Guess who owns this cabin, mattresses in the upright position ....



Could this be a girls cabin!!! Beds neatly made .....

Health and Safety talk in the Lecture Room

Orientation Walk







China

Visit our blog and see what exciting things our group will be doing during camp this week.  Please, please, please leave us a comment.

Thanks
Heath, Amanda, Ariel, Kyle, Caleb, Alesha, Devon, Melissa, Maddison, Jari, Sindy and Tylah

On the Bus ....

Miss Lister is our hero!!!!!  one wasp down and we are on our way to Totara Springs.  Two lots of tears mopped up and we're smiling, lots and lots and lots of chatter ahhhhhh

About to start on our 1st Bruno Mars song Mrs K quickly said "No singing until we get to Matamata!!!!"  - yeah rite.


Friday, May 18, 2012

Totara Springs Matamata

If you were wanting to find out some more information about where we will be for our camp click here and you will be linked to the Totara Springs website. There are so many challenging activities that we will all get to experience.

Fiji

Bula vinaka everyone....

Fiji is very excited about camp because on Monday we will be leaving on a bus to Totara Springs. Totara Springs is in Matamata.   Fiji is looking forward to the hydro slide, flying fox and canoeing. Everyone is hoping that the weather well be sunny.   If it is raining we will be playing board games. Please keep your fingers crossed that the weather will be fine.

Farewell everyone.
Kimberley, Sophie de, Ying, Kelvin, Kristian, Eric, Kian, Harry, Amelia, Megan and Shannie

Sawubona! Malo! Hallo!

Sawubona! Malo! Hallo!

Welcome to the South Africa camp group blog! Our team is unique with our black wristbands. We are brave and courageous and are are looking forward to the hydroslide!

Thanks for checking out our blog!
Katelyn, Jemma, Holly, Luke, Jayden, Maurice, Graeme, Samuel, Emma, Jessica and Chiara