Outdoor Education Overnight Hike
In Week 5, our Year 9 and 10 Outdoor Education students kicked off their week with a gutsy 18km hike along the Yaberoo Budjara trail, proving that teenage grit can outlast sore feet and a chilly night. Led by the fearless trio of Principal, Mr Stuart Chisholm, Mr Nathan Perrett, and Miss Madelaine Groenewald, the group trudged from Yanchep to Lukin Drive, with a pitstop to camp on the school oval under the stars – and a bone-chilling 6°C.
The Yaberoo Budjara trail, a limestone track lined with stunning views of rolling hills and wildflowers, was both a feast for the eyes and a test for the legs. Curious kangaroos seemed to question the students’ sanity, but their commitment and perseverance shone brighter than the trail’s brightest blooms. The 18km journey tested the students’ stamina, but their commitment and perseverance shone brighter than Mr Perrett’s head torch. “I’m so proud of them,” said Miss Groenewald, dodging a stray marshmallow lobbed during the campfire.
As temperatures plummeted to 6°C, students huddled in sleeping bags, debating whether their toes were still attached or had seceded to join a warmer climate. “I thought my sleeping bag was rated for ‘arctic conditions,’” muttered a Year 9 student, “but apparently ‘arctic’ means ‘slightly less freezing than expected.’”
This trek was a warm-up for their next challenge: a beach walk to prep for the Term 3 Cape to Cape hiking camp. If they can handle 18km, a freezing night, and a dawn march, a few pesky seagulls should be a walk in the park.
