On May 28th, Corey and I were student leaders, and it was my second time, but this is my first time making a blog. We went well, our community goal was successful (to reduce talking in DEARR by picking everyone’s headcount numbers out of a hat and sticking them to the tables so everyone sat in different seats) and my personal goal was achieved too (to come to class early and organised).

I remember when us “Bairnsdale Kids” first came a week later than everyone else (and with very short notice!). We walked in the door with 41 other faces looking at us and I felt embarrassed and so nervous! Within our first week, we made friends and got to know how the whole community worked. Everyone else here was really accepting of us and we’re still called the “Bairnsdale Kids” and probably will be until the end of term!

Snowy River Campus has taught me so much and we’re only halfway through! Yeah, I’m counting down the days till parent visiting weekend, but after this term ends I’m going to be sad, but glad because this school is such a great experience. The things we’ve done! My group, 1B has so far gone canoeing (and capsized too!), surfing, photography, orienteering, bike riding and Expo 1 (and found our team mascot, a buoy we found on the beach, who we named Danny Buoy and even made a song about him!).

We’ve learnt so much about leadership; it’s spilling out our ears! It’s so different to school back home and I have to say, surfing instead of maths and orienteering instead of English is a whole lot better! There isn’t a day that goes by when I haven’t gone outside, even if it’s not in class, like going for a run early in the mornings or if the student leaders organise a game! Today they organised Silent Ninja, and it was really funny to watch and get involved in. But it’s not always outdoors, I’ve learnt so many skills, like CPR, first aid, peer skills, how to make a formal phone call and safe food handling that I can use throughout my life.

Among all the classes, hard work and serious stuff, we really do have fun. On rest days, people are always venturing out somewhere, and a few nights ago we had a bush dance night. Everyone got out their flannies and a few girls put their hair in pig tail plaits (me included!). I can’t dance, but I had so much fun! Another exciting evening class we’ve had was theatre sports with Darren McCubbin. We were all in stitches and my sides were hurting from laughing so much.

Everything is awesome here, the kids, the teachers, the whole place. In the next half of our program, we’ll face challenges, have fun and learn so many new things (and forever be a Bairnsdale kid!).

Erin N.  Bairnsdale S.C., Term 2, 2011.