School camp contemplation

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School camp contemplation

May 06, 2023

Children head out of the gym into the dark, blindfolded, to find their way along the 'Burma Trail'

A trip into the unknown – the experience of a school camp for children and adults alike. This camp was more a blindfold experience for me than the other adult helpers, given I went as ‘Hannah’s aunt’. I had never met any of the children, teachers or parents before – Hannah lives in Auckland and I live a two hour plane flight away in Gibbston.

Why did I go on Hannah’s school camp? Because Hannah and her class teacher both did an excellent job of asking. When Hannah sent me a WhatsApp about camp, I thought she was accidentally messaging me instead of her mother. “You remember I live in Queenstown,” I messaged back. “Yes," Hannah said, "but Mrs Jackson got down on her knees and begged. We don’t have enough parent helpers so camp might not happen." School camps are memorable feature of the whole school experience for many New Zealand children and Hannah's class had missed out so far. COVID put paid to many school camps and this year would be Hannah's last at St Thomas's School. I didn't have any unmissable appointments for the week, so how could I say no?

Hannah's friend Quinn & Hannah at camp

The highlight of St Thomas's camp for many children is the Burma Trail, where they feel their way along a rope, in the dark, with blindfolds on and adults scaring them from the shadows. Children don’t necessarily enjoy the activity the most, but feel the most satisfied by having done the Trail, because they discovered the experience wasn’t nearly as bad as they feared – imaginations are like that, aren’t they? This Burma Trail was particularly challenging for the kids because it was pouring down with rain. Auckland is like that, isn’t it?! Anyhow, that’s how Auckland seems at present for someone from the near desert of Central Otago.

The highlight of camp for the adult from Central Otago was getting to meet and learn about the wonderful varying personalities of sixty-six twelve to thirteen year olds, as well as the multiple adult helpers. It’s sixteen years since Sarah was twelve, so I’ve long ago lost track of what life is like for a twelve-year old. Spending time with large numbers children is now an opportunity that comes along rarely. At least, that’s what I remembered once I got over my own Burma Trail-type fears. Such as, “I’m going to be in a bunk room with children. Adults don’t get their own space. WTF?” I can report that the children did very little talking out of hours (or any other problematic activity), except for a small burst of chatter at 4.50am on the first night, which I rapidly quelled. I also worried about, “How boring is it going to be, doing the same activity with the kids seven times over in three days.” I’d obviously forgotten that the diversity of responses of groups and individual children to similar situations means no two groups are going to be the same and children always provide plenty of challenges to keep things entertaining.

School camp was a great reminder for me that I need to get outside my comfort zone regularly in a multiplicity of ways, including doing things that I don't necessarily expect to enjoy. Because, I always might enjoy them. Thank you Hannah!