School camps are back in full swing at Beaconhills after the disruptions of COVID-19 – and students couldn’t be happier.

The College’s Beacon Explorers Program launched last week with Year 7 Berwick camping at Gembrook’s Gilwell Park.

Beacon Explorers programs give students challenging experiences to help them discover, develop and achieve their potential and encompass all outdoor, global and co-curricular programs from the Early Years to Year 12.

Year 7s enjoyed three days of mountain bike riding, an adventure course, hiking and canoeing. Students particularly loved the water activities, exploring and their downtime at night with bush movie nights and popcorn.

“It is so good seeing kids back out here, it’s the best feeling,” said Beacon Explorers Outdoor Education Co-ordinator Peta Lawler.

New locations

With the pandemic still impacting some of Beaconhills’ traditional international trips, the Beacon Explorers team has been busy devising a range of experiential options for students throughout the year.

This year’s camps will include destinations such as The Grampians, Jindabyne/Canberra, Anglesea, the Great South West Walk near Portland, Bright and Mt Buffalo, with a huge range of activities and challenges – from hiking to abseiling and kayaking. There is a a focus on leadership, environmental care, community service and Indigenous culture and history.

Head of Beacon Explorers, Sam Maddock, said the team was mindful that students had spent months in lockdown and had missed some of the skills they would normally have gained in the past two years.