Last month, sixteen of our students participated in training camps for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The Silver and Gold camps took place in the Imbil State Forest and Conondale National Park.

Silver Training Camp

Eleven students braved the wet weather forecast to attend the first Silver Camp for 2017. After a rather long bus ride to school that arrived at Charlie Moreland campsite to overcast conditions the students prepared to face the challenges of the afternoon. They learnt how to use the bushwalking GPS units to accurately pinpoint their location on a map and so the afternoon walk involved them practising this skill along with brushing up on their bushwalking skills. It was not long before the rain began to fall and kept falling until about 9pm. This meant that their wet weather skills in setting up camp were really tested.

The next day dawned to beautiful sunshine and a freshly washed forest. It was a beautiful Queensland Autumn day. The eleven students broke up into two groups and climbed up over Mt Allan – a fire tower lookout that is no longer used but is open for us to climb up and enjoy the view. As we were up there it was magical to see the mist rising up so we could see the 360° views. On the way down from Mt Alan the groups again practised using the GPS to conduct a search for some missing group members and assist them down to the campsite at Booloumba Creek as one had a mock injury. Meanwhile the college Suzuki 4WD was needing some real help as it drowned in one of the Booloumba Creek crossings.

Finally on the last day the groups walked up the Booloumba Creek gorge. It was another spectacular day and just beautiful to be walking up a picturesque creek. We were able to make contact with the Gold group coming down the creek and it was good to catch up with them briefly on their journey to Booloumba Creek camping area. After a big climb up the hill out of Booloumba Creek we made our way back to the Booloumba Creek camping area to catch the bus back to the college with the Gold group. The skills learnt and memories created on this camp will remain long after the sore muscles have recovered.

Well done to the Silver Group and our team of volunteers: Miss Claudia Houstoun, Mrs Luisa Coleman, Mr Simon Lewis, Mr Brenton Hobson and Mr Darryl Hobson. A special thanks to Mr Matthew Doyle for rescuing the college Suzuki and getting it going again in record time!

Northpine Christian College is proud to provide students an opportunity to be part of “The International Duke of Edinburgh Award”.  This is a youth award open to any young person from 14 years and it challenges students to develop in a holistic way.  For information see Mr Hobson or Mr Wilson or check out the link http://dukes.northpine.qld.edu.au.

-Mr Darryl Hobson

Gold Training Camp

The Gold Award level is the highest level in the International Duke of Edinburgh Award. We had five Gold level participants this last weekend doing their practice bushwalking expedition for the award by completing the beautiful Conondale Range Great Walk.  This was a four day walk from Thursday May 18 to Sunday May 21.

The walk starts and finishes in the valley of Booloumba Creek in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and follows through deep gorges to the top of the range and back again. Ancient rainforest, cascading waterfalls, crystal clear creeks, tall open forest, and expansive 360 degree views from Mount Allan Fire Tower are just some of spectacular features we passed through.  Friday was a very wet and challenging day with friendly leeches in the damper areas of rainforest.  The many fallen trees across the track from the recent Cyclone Debbie weather event slowed down progress but the day was completed despite one sprained ankle at the end of day.  The next day the weather cleared and the group continued on to complete the walk.  Some braved the cold but refreshing waters of Booloumba Creek for a quick dip. At the end of the walk the group enjoyed meeting up with the Silver expedition that was completing their expedition in the same area.  Well done Gold participants as you continue to go for Gold.

Thank you to our supervisors Dammia Bronsan and Jackie Vescovi and expedition leader Colin Wilson.

Northpine Christian College is proud to provide students an opportunity to be part of the International Duke of Edinburgh Award.  This is a youth award open to any young person from 14 years and it challenges students to develop in a holistic way.  For information see Mr Hobson or Mr Wilson or check out the link to the Duke of Edinburgh Award on the school start page.

-Mr Colin Wilson