We have just spent our first week at the Snowy River Campus. It has gone so fast already and everyone is enjoying the activities and classes that have been run, as well as everything else we have had the chance to experience here.

Throughout the week we have taken part in many activities that are designed to develop and improve our leadership skills and teamwork abilities. Our first major teamwork day was when we went in groups to participate in a bridge building task. We were given many wooden poles, rope and taught how to tie various different knots. Our goal was to build a bridge that would get our whole team of students across to a canoe to retrieve some ‘treasure.’ We then had to be able to get back across to the shore. All of this had to be done without any of us touching or falling into the water.

When we arrived at the water our group (2B) all sat down to plan out how we were going to achieve this. We decided it was best that we make and use tripods, then make ramps to position between them.

Our structures were very sturdy as we tested them prior to taking them over to the water. It wasn’t until then that we realised we had not planned out how we were going to get these structures into the water. After some quick planning we went back to try out our ideas. We positioned our first tripod in the water. Then a few of us climbed up onto it, having realised the only way to get the other tripods in position would be to maneuver them from the previous tripod. Our team found it quite difficult once we were ready to position the third structure. Every time is was almost close enough to where it needed to be, it would begin to weaken through too much movement.

After a few hours of work and still only having made it half way across  we were forced to give up because we needed to return to campus. Although we didn’t actually make our target, many of us believed we had still succeeded. Our team had not reached our goal, but we had still worked together efficiently and fulfilled the goals which we had previously set, which were to become more co-operative and show more respect towards each other.

Each group has also been participating in various duties. Each day a different school is on wash up duty-helping to clean up after each meal, common duty-cleaning up the common room after meals (i.e. washing tables, sweeping and mopping, serving meals) and wet duty-cleaning the bathrooms. Rather than overloading our cleaner (Mr. Smart) with cleaning tasks, students are expected to help to maintain the campus. This also teaches us how to look after ourselves and help our parents around our homes once we leave.

The idea of these schools is to develop and improve our skills. There are many opportunities for participating in team and leadership activities whilst at Snowy, although it is up to the students to seek these chances out. So far every student has taken the opportunity to make the experience worth it! We have enjoyed our time here so far and can’t wait to find out what else has been planned for us!

Katelyn - Wallan SC