Year 8 Camp

Contact 

For the duration of the Year 8 Camp, students will be working in their Tutor groups. Mr Rob Mclean will be coordinating the bushwalk component and Ms Nicole Salamon the residential component with assistance from other staff and instructors.

For further queries, please email Mr Rob Mclean or Ms Nicole Salamon.

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award

The Bushwalking expedition can be counted as the practice walk for the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. Parents must register their child in the Award Scheme if they wish to count this activity towards the Bronze Award. 

For students wanting to join the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, there is a registration fee of $210.00. Information about the Award Scheme and opportunities at Westminster accompanies the camp information and can be found on our website here. This fee will be added to the student’s account when the online record book is activated (ORB) unless other payment options are selected during the online registration process.

Group A: 8.5 & 8.6

Monday

• Meet at School at 8:45am with rucksacks packed and a spare bag for Willow Creek to be left on the bus
• Depart for Heysen Trail Bushwalk, Waitpinga Conservation Park
• Small group activities and trangia cooking
• Camping overnight in tents

Tuesday

• Continue bushwalking along the Heysen Trail towards Victor Harbour
• Transfer to NRMA Victor Harbour Beachfront Holiday Park
• Small group activities and trangia cooking
• Camping overnight in tents

Wednesday

• Nature walk & abseiling
• Transfer to Willow Creek Adventure Camp
• Mountain bikes, team challenges, nature art and dinner
• Games organised by Year 12 Leaders
• Dorm accommodation

Thursday

• At Willow Creek Adventure Camp
• Raft building, run challenge and orienteering
• Lunch and dinner
• Quiz night and movie
• Form accommodation

Friday

• Final morning at Willow Creek Conservation Camp
• Lunch
• Pack up 
• Return to School by 3pm

Group B: 8.4 & 8.7

Monday

• Meet at School at 8:45am ready for departure to Willow Creek Adventure Camp 
• Mountain bikes, team challenges, nature art and dinner
• Games organised by Year 12 Leaders
• Dorm accommodation

Tuesday

• At Willow Creek Adventure Camp
• Raft building, run challenge and orienteering
• Lunch and dinner
• Quiz night and movie
• Dorm accommodation

Wednesday

• Final morning at Willow Creek Conservation Camp
• Lunch
• Pack up 
• Depart for NRMA Victor Harbour Beachfront Holiday Park
• Small group activities and trangia cooking
• Camping overnight in tents

Thursday

• Breakfast and pack up at NRMA Victor Harbour Beachfront Holiday Park
• Transfer to bushwalk location
• Commence bushwalk heading along the Heysen Trail to the Waitpinga campground
• Small group activities and trangia cooking
• Camping overnight in tents

Friday

• Continue bushwalk along the Heysen Trail
• Pack up
• Return to School by 3:00pm

Group A: 8.1 & half 8.3

Monday

• Meet at School at 8:45am with rucksacks packed and a spare bag for Willow Creek to be left on the bus
• Depart for Heysen Trail Bushwalk, Waitpinga Conservation Park
• Small group activities and trangia cooking
• Camping overnight in tents

Tuesday

• Continue bushwalking along the Heysen Trail towards Victor Harbour
• Transfer to NRMA Victor Harbour Beachfront Holiday Park
• Small group activities and trangia cooking
• Camping overnight in tents

Wednesday

• Nature walk & abseiling
• Transfer to Willow Creek Adventure Camp
• Mountain bikes, team challenges, nature art and dinner
• Games organised by Year 12 Leaders
• Dorm accommodation

Thursday

• At Willow Creek Adventure Camp
• Raft building, run challenge and orienteering
• Lunch and dinner
• Quiz night and movie
• Form accommodation

Friday

• Final morning at Willow Creek Conservation Camp
• Lunch
• Pack up 
• Return to School by 3pm

Group B: 8.2 & half 8.3

Monday

• Meet at School at 8:45am ready for departure to Willow Creek Adventure Camp 
• Mountain bikes, team challenges, nature art and dinner
• Games organised by Year 12 Leaders
• Dorm accommodation

Tuesday

• At Willow Creek Adventure Camp
• Raft building, run challenge and orienteering
• Lunch and dinner
• Quiz night and movie
• Dorm accommodation

Wednesday

• Final morning at Willow Creek Conservation Camp
• Lunch
• Pack up 
• Depart for NRMA Victor Harbour Beachfront Holiday Park
• Small group activities and trangia cooking
• Camping overnight in tents

Thursday

• Breakfast and pack up at NRMA Victor Harbour Beachfront Holiday Park
• Transfer to bushwalk location
• Commence bushwalk heading along the Heysen Trail to the Waitpinga campground
• Small group activities and trangia cooking
• Camping overnight in tents

Friday

• Continue bushwalk along the Heysen Trail
• Pack up
• Return to School by 3:00pm

Equipment should be packed in large sports bags or rucksacks. Suitcases are unsuitable.

All students walking Monday - Wednesday:

• Please provide recess and lunch for Monday if you are bushwalking
• A school rucksack packed with bushwalking essentials is required for the walk, and a sports bag to transfer belongings into on the Wednesday lunchtime. Rucksacks will be issued during the week prior to camp
• Any clothes etc. not required for the hike will be left in sports bag in the bus during the hike

All students walking Wednesday - Friday

• Monday lunch is provided at Willow Creek Adventure Camp
• Gear must be packed into a sports bag on Monday. Bushwalking gear will be transferred into rucksacks on Wednesday. Rucksacks will be provided to students at the caravan park on Wednesday lunchtime
• Any clothes etc. not required for the hike will be left in their sports bag in the bus during the hike

Activities: 

• 3 x shirts - preferrable 2 x long sleeve for sun protection
• 1 x thermal top
• 3 x pairs of pants, tights or shorts - tracksuit pants are suitable for basecamp only. No jeans
• 1 x woolen jumper, down jacket, or fleece jacket. Please avoid synthetic jumpers - these will not ensure warmth if/when wet
• 1 x waterproof rain jacket
• 2 x pairs thick walking 'explorer' socks - can be purchased from supermarkets
• 1 x broad brimmed sunhat - must cover ears and back of neck
• 1 x beanie
• 1 x pair gloves
• Bathers and board shorts for raft building - likely to get wet and dirty
• Sport socks for base camp & running 
• Underwear for 5 x days 
• Walking shoes - sturdy track shoes are fine. Do not purchase walking boots for this sole trip. Shoes must be well worn
• Aquatic shoes - will get wet and dirty
• Thongs for shower

Sleeping: 

• 1 x sleeping bag - easy to pack and compress
• 1 x single bed sheet for Willow Creek - optional
• 1 x pillow - for use at base camp only, can be left on bus when walking
• 1 x sleeping mat or themarest for the walk - used to insulate from the ground. Must be compact - this item is carried when walking
• 1 x book or kindle 

Toiletries:

• 1 x small soap
• 1 x roll on deodorant - no aerosols permitted
• 1 x small toothbrush and toothpaste
• 1 x comb
• 1 x small shampoo/conditioner
• 1 x towel
• SPF 50+ sunscreen and lipbalm
• Personal medication

Food

• 1 x plate
• 1 x bowl
• 1 x mug
• 1 x set eating utensils 
• 1 x small tea towel
• 2 x 1 litre strong water bottle

Miscellaneous 

• 3 x large plastic bags - for dirty clothes
• 1 x head torch + spare batteries
• 1 x garbage bag to line rucksack - garden bags are useful
• 1 x small disposable camera

Provided: 

• Tents, poles and pegs
• Rucksack for the 2.5 day walk component
• Trangia stove and fuel bottle
• Group first aid kit 

Not allowed:

• Mobile phones, computer games, radios, iPods or electronic devices
• Lollies, chips, or gum
• Aerosol deodorant

Please note:

• Mobile phones will be collected on the bus on Monday and returned on Friday. Alternatively, mobile phones can be left at home
• No pocket money is required

Express consent is required for participation. Please complete Consent2Go and optional Duke of Edinburgh registration process before the end of Week 1, Term 2. 

Please direct further enquiries regarding the trip, or the nature of the activities, to Mr Rob McLean via email.