Building Life Skills and Friendships at Year 9 Camp

November 8, 2024

The Year 9 camp was an experience students will never forget, filled with adventure, teamwork, and invaluable life lessons. Over two weeks, students headed south in two groups, each spending a week immersed in the outdoors. For everyone involved, it was a refreshing break from routine and a chance to grow, make lasting memories, and build friendships that will carry on long after camp.

Building Bonds Through Adventure

Throughout the week, students threw themselves into a variety of exciting activities, including canoeing, snorkelling, bushwalking, and camp cooking, that combined fun with learning. Each activity was designed to encourage teamwork and mutual support, helping the girls connect with one another and form new friendships. Surrounded by nature, they learned the power of working together, sharing moments they will carry with them for years.

The main goal of the Year 9 camp is to provide students with an environment where they can grow in independence, resilience, and teamwork, qualities essential for their development. By taking on outdoor challenges and solving problems in small groups, students can stretch beyond their comfort zone and develop a deeper sense of responsibility for themselves and each other.

Embracing Challenges and Responsibility

The camp provided students with opportunities to step up to new challenges and embrace responsibilities that would help them develop essential life skills. From cooking meals to cleaning up the campsite and navigating bushwalks, each student took ownership of daily tasks that fostered accountability and pride. These experiences are life lessons in resilience, confidence, and cooperation that will serve them well into the future.

This year’s camp featured challenging activities like caving, mountain biking, and snorkelling. Each task required teamwork and trust as students navigated tight caves, crossed open water, and hiked through unfamiliar terrain.

Highlights from Mat Puljiz, Dean of Year 9

For Mat Puljiz, Dean of Year 9, one of the biggest highlights was seeing friendships blossom and new connections form. He explains, “The camp’s small group setting encouraged students to reach beyond their usual social circles and bond with peers they might not typically spend time with. A sense of comfort and openness grew as they set up tents, cooked meals, and supported one another. By the end of the week, each group felt like a little family, carrying these newfound friendships back to school.”

Mat goes on to talk about one memorable story from the camp, which involved the smallest group, which initially saw themselves as the ‘leftovers’. “With encouragement, they embraced their unique situation. They formed a bond so strong they didn’t want to leave each other’s company – even requesting to travel home together instead of joining the main bus back to Perth”. Their story is a testament to the deep connections that can form quickly when students are given the space and support to truly connect.

Reflecting on the camp experience, Mat summed it up perfectly: “This experience aligns beautifully with our commitment to nurturing well-rounded, confident young people who are ready to take on both personal and academic challenges”.

The Year 9 camp was a milestone in each student’s journey of growth and self-discovery. We are proud of how each student rose to the occasion, tackling challenges, making lasting friendships, and returning home with a stronger sense of self.

Featured, Resilience, StudentGrowth, teamwork, Year9Camp

Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.