January Boarding Camps

Nervous, worried, anxious ... these are some of the words used by the new and returning boarders at the start of each year. But with Boarding Camp taking place in the second week of Term, these usually turn into feelings of excitement, relaxation and calm.

GIRLS BOARDING

KIM HOLMAN

For the last 14 years we have taken our Girls Boarding cohort on their two-night annual House Camp at the start of the Term. This year we went to Twin Waters, Maroochydore, and our boarder girls again engaged in 'House of Origin'—Cameron verses Finger in a fun game of beach Dodgeball. This is a great ice-breaker, and it ensures our new boarders feel part of their boarding community. They become very House-proud after this event. Go Finger! Go Cameron-Herse!

The other activities include visiting the Coolum Aqua Park, Kayaking, Abseiling, Knee Boarding, Swimming and on Saturday night we have House games and skits. Our Seniors oversee seven boarder's in Years 7-11 and are the 'House Mums' in their Family Groups. They do all the meal prep and caring of their girls whilst a Junior Staff member is there for support if needed. The Year 12s know it is their responsibility to see that our new boarders feel included and they take this job very seriously.

Prior to camp, they will have already have worked out their skits along with how meals are organised and prepared. The Seniors engage our new boarders and existing boarders just as if they were a real family. Some girls help with dinner, others set the table and they all help with the clean-up.

We've found that by doing this on the first weekend it helps to get the new boarders involved, as parents are not in the picture for that first weekend. No phones are allowed at camp and the Year 12s know it is their job to put our new boarders at ease and cement relationships. These Family Groups continue for the rest of the year—they will celebrate birthdays together and go on dinner outings and other activities. It is lovely to see vertical friendships blossom like in a real family.

When the girls return to St Peters after camp you cannot tell the new boarders from the old boarders. Friendships are cemented, jitters and nerves are left behind and our new boarders are ready to face the year ahead with their new-found friends/family.

STUART DELANEY - BOYS BOARDING

Boarding at St Peters is an amazing journey but with each journey there must be a start. In Boys Boarding, we start the St Peters boarding journey away at camp at Tangalooma. For each boarder the camps are different. For our new Year 12 Leaders, it is the start of their final year at St Peters and they are thinking about their legacy; what will they be remembered for and, there is also the, Wow! Only 200 days to I’m out of here.

Each new boarder has several things they must tick off...Where is my bed? Who am I sleeping near? Where are the toilets? How am I going to make friends? And, is this really happening? With the staff and older boarders to support each other we all head off to camp.

Each boy is grouped with a Senior Leader and a mixture of boys from other Year Levels. We call these 'Family Groups' and each Family Group is supported by a staff member. Introducing the boys to their Family Groups is an important start to the year as activities and outings will be done in these groups throughout the year. Staff take their family groups to the movies, out to dinner and events at different times throughout the year.

On camp the boys are also broken up into their Houses, Schilling and Ludcke-Mutze.

Boys Boarding Houses were, of course, named in honour of the three Fred's in St Peters' history—Fred Schilling, Fred Ludcke and Fred Mutze. These Houses are more than names. They are where your brothers are; their members will support you and lift you up; they will be there for life and theses houses are a part of you. The warriors are brave, proud, fight for what is right, embrace fear and live with no regret. The knight is honourable, respectful, chivalrous, has courage, courtesy and is loyal.

As we head away on camp, Friday afternoon is all about healthy competition, commencing with a game of touch/tackle Football on the waters edge. Boys love the competition that is in a place where they feel safe and for those who do not want to play, they are able to support and just be with their brothers.

Each meal is an opportunity to get to know each other. The Years 11 and 12 boys cook for their Family Groups and, along with their Staff member, they all eat together.

Over each camp weekend all the boys are involved in Year Level and House activities getting to know each other. When they return to campus at the end of the weekend there is no longer a ‘new’ boarder, just another brother in the boarding house.