On the weekend of 17-19 May, thirteen students participated in the first Silver Training Camp for 2019. On Friday morning we left school for Charlie Moreland Campground in Imbil State Forest, which is near Kenilworth on the Sunshine Coast. The Silver participants learnt how to use a GPS in relation to their map and compass work completed at Bronze level. The GPS made navigation a little more precise and gave them more confidence of their position on the map. It was a big climb up the hill and then down and across the creek a few times and into camp. A campfire provided a warm central focus point.

The next day it was a big climb over Mt Allan. One group was given the GPS coordinates to find the other group as part of a search and rescue exercise. Students were given the challenging task of managing a mock ‘sprained ankle’, ‘snake bite’ and ‘broken arm’ when they located the missing group. Students hiked down an unmarked track on a spur into Booloumba Creek Campground, where they experienced the deep emerald colour of the clear, cold waters of the creek.

On Sunday morning the group hiked up Booloumba Creek to the beautiful Artists Cascades. Many braved the cold water and sat under the waterfall (a warm spa without the warm!) Students had a lot of fun traversing the creek by rock hopping their way to Frog Falls. They had a quick dip and from here it was a big, steep climb up the spur to the road, requiring good navigation skills to stay on the spur, with the added challenge of some thick vegetation to push through. The weather turned out to be pleasant for walking, with only a few light showers over the weekend. The creeks were flowing well after the recent rains and the water was crisp and clear.

Well done, Silver! Next trip – Bribie Island.

Thank you to our volunteers: Mr Clayton Forbes, Mrs Luisa Coleman, Miss Kaliesha Coyte, Mr Darryl Hobson and Mr Colin Wilson.

Northpine Christian College is proud to provide students with an opportunity to be part of “The International Duke of Edinburgh Award”. This is a youth award open to any young person from fourteen years of age, 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