Into the Mountains
30November-4December2026
Year 9 Camp Into the Mountains Multi Activity Camp
K E Y I N F O R M A T I O N
Dates: Monday 30 November to Friday 4 December
Pre departure meeting point and time: Keith Anderson Oval, 6 50am
Departure: Chatfield Avenue bus bays (back of school) at 7 00am
Return: Chatfield Avenue bus bays (back of school) at approximately 3 30pm
Travel Updates: For the most up to date information about Friday’s return time please check updates on Year 9 Camp page on DEEDS.
Location: Mount Buffalo National Park, Mount Pilot and surrounds.
Transport: provided by Panorama Coaches
Food: All food will be provided by Adventure Guides Australia, with the exception of lunch and snacks on the first day All parents are asked to review and update their son’s Administrative and Medical Details, including non-medical dietary requirements, using Consent2Go, when completing the consent form Instructions about how to update your son’s details through the Consent2Go App can be found here
Accommodation: students will camp in tents at Porepunkah Bridge Holiday Park.
Luggage: each student is limited to one soft sided bag (eg. sports bag; not a suitcase) weighing no more than 20kg and a daypack.
Injury: Any student with an injury that may affect his participation in any camp activities should include this information on their Student Health Record This information can be added through the Parent Lounge If a student gets injured or is sick while on camp they are to inform a staff member immediately Each camp will have qualified first aiders
Medications: If your son needs to take medication to camp please complete the online Medication Authorisation Form by Thursday 26 November 2026 Any Schedule 8 medications must be delivered to the Student Health Centre from Tuesday 24 November to Thursday 26 November 2026 In accordance with our medication administration policy, students in Year 9 and above are allowed to self-administer their regular medications (except for Schedule 8 medications, which will need to be held by a teacher). The school requires a Medication Authorisation for all medication, so that staff are aware of what medications students are taking, in case of emergency.
We request that parents do not send paracetamol or antihistamines on camp, for ‘just in case’. The School will provide Panadol, Claratyne and Zyrtec, and it is important that teaching staff are aware if any student is requiring these medications
Asthma inhalers will be the responsibility of students unless otherwise agreed upon
Students requiring an Epipen must bring an Epipen from home with them on camp and carry it with them at all times This Epipen is in addition to the one supplied to the school for use during school activities
An up-to-date Asthma, Allergy or Anaphylaxis plan is required if your child is affected by any of these conditions.
Year 9 Camp Into the Mountains Multi Activity Camp
A C T I V I T I E S
Year 9 Camp seeks to help students to learn outside the classroom and be better equipped to meet the challenges of the future In Year 9 the focus is on learning new skills, meeting challenges and appreciating the necessity of working in a team
The program has been designed to improve each student’s knowledge of the natural areas that exist in Victoria, and to arm them with the skills to manage themselves in these areas safely The foreshore, forest, mountains and waterways in Australia will have an ever-increasing importance as our population expands and each student should be aware of these factors
This program is an extension of the normal school program - it is not intended as a holiday camp It provides each student with a variety of experiences and controlled challenges
Students can learn in these situations on three levels: they can learn in a practical, hands-on manner, gaining new skills; they can learn more about themselves, and how they react to different and unusual situations; and they can learn more about how they interact within a group, learning co-operative and help-seeking behaviours
On this camp students will learn how to explore caves safely, experience dry canyoning, have opportunities to abseil and develop an understanding of how cave systems develop.
Caving: Depending on conditions groups may experience horizontal caving or vertical caving.
Horizontal Caving: Caving where you do not need abseil and climbing systems but are able to access the caves by crawling and walking Vertical caving is where you use rope systems and steel wire ladders to access the areas you wish to visit and explore In some caves this is the only way to gain access Groups in wild caves are responsible for providing their own safety equipment and portable lighting Adventure Guide Australia will provide our groups equipment needs
Canyoning: This will take place at Mount Buffalo and will be a great team challenge for most ages and levels of fitness The canyon includes squeezing through small caves, scrambling down a steep canyon The adventure can include rock climbing, abseils, and a steel wire ladder climb
Abseiling: The method of descending a rock-face with assistance of a rope You control your descent using a belay device A second safety rope controlled by an instructor is also in use during the descent On this camp students will have the opportunity to try a number of different abseils, including one that is 250 m long
Rock Climbing: On this camp students will have the opportunity to try multi pitch climbing When multi-pitch climbing a climber places climbing anchors in the rock as they climb to act as protection in the event of a fall The first person climbing, who places the anchors, is called the lead climber The second person climbing, who removes the anchors when they are no longer required, is called the second During an introductory session a skilled and experienced instructor will lead the way up a climb, and then belay you from a ledge to bring the second person up to them. This process continues as you climb, at all times attached to a safety rope.
White-water Rafting: In this activity students will be introduced to white water rafting on the Ovens River at Bright. Using Sports Rafts, students will spend three hours learning about and experiencing rafting.
Staffing: Each group is led by experienced and qualified Adventure Guides Australia guides when caving. There will also be a CGS staff present.
Year 9 Camp Into the Mountains Multi Activity Camp
P R O G R A M
Arrive at Porepunkah Camp 12 15pm
Set up camp, Lunch, Briefings
Monday 30 November
Tuesday 1 December
Teams One and Two rafting in sports rafts
1pm Bus to Bright, Ovens River at Bright through to Porepunkah Holiday Park
Team Three - Bus to Rollason’s or Mackie’s lookout
Hike the most scenic part of the Big Walk to the Gorge lookouts
Travel to Buffalo Gorge
Morning Program 9 am to 12.00 pm (3 Hours)
Team one Abseiling to 35 metres
Team two Underground River Cave
Team three Rock Climbing
Lunch change over activities midday)
Afternoon program 1.00 pm to 4 pm (3 hours)
Team One Underground River Cave
Team Two Rock Climbing
Team Three Burston’s Crevasse
Morning program
Team Three Abseiling to 35 metres
Team One Rock Climbing
Team Two Burston’s Crevasse
Wednesday 2
December
Thursday 3
December
Friday 4 December
Afternoon program
Team two Abseiling to 35 metres
Team three Underground River Cave
Team one Burston’s Crevasse
Team Three rafting in sports rafts
- Ovens River at Bright through to Porepunkah Holiday Park
Teams One and Two, continue Bus to Rollason’s or Mackie’s lookout
- Hike the most scenic part of the Big Walk to the Gorge
Pack up campsite, load trailers
Travel back to Camberwell Grammar School,
Lunch stop at Euroa Chatfield Avenue bus bays Approximate return time 3 30pm
Year 9 Camp Into the Mountains Multi Activity Camp
C
L O T H I N G
A N D E Q U I P M E N T
Students need to be ready for a range of conditions on the camp Having the right gear and clothing can make a big difference in the enjoyment of the experience
Weather: The weather up and around Mount Buffalo can be cold in November and December. Nights can be cold and mornings are often cool and crisp. Days can be clear and warm but they can also be cold and wet. Make sure you read the kit list carefully and bring all the items listed.
Wet weather: A good raincoat is essential. The CGS spray jacket will not be sufficient. If you do not have a good quality raincoat you may decide it is worth hiring one from an outdoor store such as EMC, 68 Whitehorse Road, Deepdene or One Planet
Layering: The principle of layering clothing should be followed Rather than wear one heavy coat over a tshirt which only gives you two options - you should keep warm by using a number of layers Start with thermals (polypropylene or wool), then add a t-shirt, a long sleeved shirt, a jumper and a jacket In the coldest conditions, you can wear all of these; as you warm up during activities, you can strip off till you are comfortable, and then quickly put layers back on when you stop moving. Remember a warm hat is invaluable. It is good to have something warm and dry to change into at the end of the day - a tracksuit is ideal.
Bedding: All students should bring a sleeping bag that has a comfort rating of -5 degrees or lower. Nights can be cold, especially out on the hike. Students who don’t have a suitable sleeping bag may decide to hire one rather than buy one
Footwear: Runners or approach shoes are necessary for this camp For comfort and foot health, shoes should be waterproof Feet quickly become wet in mesh runners if the weather or ground are wet
Sun protection: All students will need to have a hat with a broad brim, not a baseball cap, and sunscreen A long sleeved shirt with a collar with a collar is recommended The nature of the camp means you will be spending a lot of time outdoors, regardless of weather conditions.
Be prepared for all conditions
Your experience will be made so much more enjoyable by making sure you bring the right gear. With a little planning, you can outfit yourself perfectly with items most people already have at home. You may find a trip to your local op-shop helps you find items, such as a woolen jumper, that you don’t have at home.
Year 9 Camp Into the Mountains Multi Activity Camp
C L O T H I N G
A N D E Q U I P M E N T L I S T
Adventure Guides Australia will provide tents, sleeping mats, cooking equipment and specialist climbing equipment. Students will need to be prepared for a wide range of conditions, weather can change quickly. All items listed below should be brought on camp.
Clothing and equipment must be packed in a soft-sided bag, rather than a rigid suitcase Students should bring a daypack to carry personal effects each day
SLEEPING BAGS can be hired from EMC Deepdene or One Planet.
Clothing
1 x set of thermals, top and bottom
2 x jumpers, woolen or fleece
3 x shirts/t-shirts, must have sleeves
2 x pairs of long pants/track suit pants, no denim
2 x pairs of shorts
Underwear as needed
4 x pairs of socks, at least one woolen pair
1 x beanie, woolen or fleece
1 x sunhat
1 x pair walking boots/runners
1 x small towel
1 x set of travelling clothes to wear to and from camp
1 x pair of cosed toe shoes to climb in (e.g. flexible runners)
Old tracksuit pants and jumper (for caving
1 x japara/waterproof jacket
1 x japara/waterproof jacket
1 x rashvest
1 x boardshorts or similar
Old runners (for rafting and caving)
Equipment
warm sleeping bag
sleeping bag liner
old tea towel
water bottle (min 1 litre)/ water bladder
plate, bowl, mug (preferably unbreakable), knife, fork, spoon
2 x plastic bags for rubbish
2 x heavy duty rubbish bags (not black) for waterproofing
Personal Items
sunscreen
insect repellant
torch and spare batteries
small personal first aid kit
personal medication
toiletries (soap, toothbrush and paste, comb)
1 x roll of toilet paper in a snap lock bag
antibacterial hand sanitiser gel
Optional
Book (keep in a plastic bag)
Camera
1 x pair of sunglasses
The items above are in addition to the clothes worn to camp All items should be clearly marked
Older, comfortable clothes are preferable to stylish ones.
Do NOT bring jewellery or other valuables. Do NOT bring any mobile phones, iPads or tablet devices, headphones, earbuds or other music devices.
No aerosol sprays are permitted on camp (use roll-ons)
Year 9 Camp Into the Mountains Multi Activity Camp
C A M P R U L E S
Camp will be a challenging experience for all students. We want it also to be fun and safe, as well as providing you with valuable lessons about co-operation, teamwork and your own strengths and resilience. Remember that some people may find the outdoor experience challenging. Support them, be positive and be considerate - think of others, not just yourself, and if you see someone is struggling, offer to help.
There are a few key rules to ensuring that camp is safe and enjoyable for all:
aerosol cans, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, electronic equipment, matches and pocket knives are not permitted on camp no student is to leave the camp site or activity site without a leader’s permission no student, by his actions, is to place any other student or group of students in danger students are required to follow directions from staff at all times, whether from Camberwell Grammar School of Adventure Guides Australia.
Questions: If you have any questions regarding any element of Year 9 Camp please contact Ms Kirsty McDougall, Head of Co-curricular Activities by phone or email kem@cgs vic edu au
Emergency contact during camp: If you need to get in touch with a student during camp, please call Camberwell Grammar School on 9835 1777 during school hours or Ms Karen Whelan on 9835 1710 outside of school hours.