Finding Courage and Friendship at Year 9 Camp
Over the past two weeks, our Year 9 students swapped classrooms for campgrounds as they headed off on two unforgettable adventures at Preverly and Contos. With half the cohort attending last week and the other this week, both camps delivered a jam-packed experience full of growth, resilience and fun.
Embracing Challenge and Building Confidence
The Year 9 Camp is designed to stretch students outside their comfort zones, and this year was no exception. Whether they were abseiling down a rock face, kayaking along the river, or navigating through Giant’s Cave, each girl had the chance to test her courage and try something new.
Importantly, students were encouraged to approach challenges with a growth mindset. Staff were proud to see girls supporting one another and celebrating each other’s wins, big or small.
Year 9 Dean, Gemma Beekink was full of praise for the Year 9 girls.
“I am so incredibly proud of each and every Year 9 student who attended camp and embraced all that it had to offer. Over the week, they faced their fears, challenged themselves, and truly leaned into the idea we spoke about at the start of the year “getting comfortable with the uncomfortable”. This experience showed them just how strong and capable they really are, and reminded us all of the power of perspective and mindset. Even when faced with challenges – whether it was the activity, the environment, or even the weather, it was inspiring to see our students find the positives and support one another. It was wonderful to watch the girls embrace every opportunity and make the most of this memorable experience.”
Strong Bonds and Shared Memories
Friendship was at the heart of the experience. With no phones and plenty of time spent in nature, the girls rconnected with each other and had opportunities to form new friendships. From late-night chats in tents to early morning hikes, it was clear that shared experiences built strong bonds.
For many students, this was their first time away from home in a setting like this. The independence gained and sense of community created over just a few days was powerful.
“I really enjoyed hiking the Cape to Cape, taking in the beautiful views, and spending time with friends along the way,” said Isabella. “Cooking dinner together at camp was so much fun and full of laughs. Abseiling and exploring the caves were awesome new experiences that I’ll never forget.”
Leadership and Reflection
Each camp wrapped up with group reflections that gave students a chance to share their learnings. Many girls spoke about discovering strengths they didn’t know they had, whether that was perseverance, patience, or a newfound leadership spark.
Our staff team also noticed a shift. The girls returned more confident, more connected, and with a deeper understanding of themselves and each other.
“My favourite part was in the ‘ballroom’ of Giant’s Cave where it was pitch black and absolutely silent. This allowed me to be present in the moment, and have some to just ‘to be’ in what was a very busy camp program,” said Abbey. “This camp also helped me to develop my leadership skills and at times, put them to the test, especially when I was in charge of navigating our entire group on our hike using an old school compass!”
Connecting Learning to Life
The Year 9 Camp experience strongly reflects our Mercy value of Excellence, as girls pushed themselves to be their personal best, and Hospitality, as they looked after each other with kindness and care.
It also developed key attributes from our Connecting Learning to Life framework, including:
- Resilience – tackling tough challenges and bouncing back
- Collaboration – working together during team-based activities
- Emotional Intelligence – showing empathy and regulating emotions
- Initiative – taking responsibility for their actions and goals
Thank You
A huge thank you to our dedicated staff who attended both camps and made these experiences safe, enriching and memorable for the girls. And to our students, well done on showing such grit, joy and compassion. You should be incredibly proud of what you achieved!
- connectinglearningtolife, Featured, GirlsEducation, OutdoorEducation, SantaMariaCollege, StudentLeadership, StudentResiliene, studentwellbeing, 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.
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