St Aidan’s Girls Can

MRS LOU STANLEY AND MS GIAAN KEIR

Year Three camp – the youngest grade to attend an overnight excursion – eek!

Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision. Courage is the secret of life. It brings us freedom once we tackle challenges head on. It requires resilience, perseverance, and determination. The girls at St Aidan’s have this in spades, especially the Year Three girls who attended their first ever overnight camp at PGL Kindilan, Redland Bay on 11 and 12 August. The atmosphere on the bus to camp was a mix of nervous anticipation and excitement as the group speculated what the next two days would bring.

The girls challenged themselves to step outside their comfort zones, whether it was sailing through the air on the possum glider, paddling across the lake in a canoe, walking precariously on a tight rope, dressing up in a crazy outfit for the disco, or simply sleeping away from home for the first time. This took lots of courage and self-belief.

Possum gliding required girls to soar high in the sky and swing amongst the leaves where gumtrees stretched as far as the eye could see. For some, they had to be brave and courageous and overcome their fear of heights, trusting their peers holding the ropes below. While in canoeing the girls had to work in unison, listening to the instructor to successfully navigate the lake without hitting the bank or reeds. Teamwork and leadership shone through whilst giggling and negotiating could be heard when the canoes became stuck.

The girls had to work collaboratively and use their excellent communication skills in order to solve team challenges. The challenges drew on all students’ strengths, especially problem-solving skills. The girls had many goals and persevered until they achieved them. Chants of wisdom and cheers of success could be heard throughout the campground. Friendships, both old and new, blossomed.

To celebrate the girls’ achievements, at night a ‘whacky’ dressed themed disco was held. All the girls dressed in their camp clothes in the whackiest way possible - have you ever seen socks styled as hair accessories? Courageous in style and confidence!

Year Three camp was a momentous occasion. The Year 3 cohort were Born to Fly, and they certainly flew, through building self-confidence, strengthening problem solving skills, nurturing friendships and being courageous.

Girls can. Girls will. Girls do.