Last week Class 8 headed to the ‘Boshack Outback Eco Farm’, inland from Northam. We arrived Monday afternoon and assimilated ourselves into red dirt, tall stark trees, and a totally off grid environment.

Boshack Outback offered us bush corridors to experience (for many) a new type of nature and serenity... The students were able to experience pristine nature as it was many years ago in Outback Australia. We were able to walk through the bushland to see kangaroo trails and feel the coolness of the paper bark forests. Boshack is set on the banks of a manmade lake, ‘Lake Serene’, giving us a beautiful outlook in which to watch the sun set and rise. Our early mornings and evenings were spent around the campfire, which thanks to Ilya and Lachy was well stoked and monitored from start to finish.  

The theme for our camp was collaboration and teamwork. Working cohesively and being able to listen and act accordingly in a group environment. Activities centred around general farm life on a working station, structure assembly, raft building, dream time stories, self-reflection, taking in and artistically and articulately representing the landscape... Canoeing, bush walking, orienteering, bush first-aid, individual and team challenges and damper making. It was lovely to watch and be a part of the student’s ‘downtime’, which included fire building, board games, quiz evening, table tennis and generally hanging out with their peer group away from the family unit. Fishing was a big focus, although wasn’t on the original agenda. However, with a few ‘hunters and gatherers’ amongst the group and new student James who caught and released the only fish in the lake!

I am so wonderfully proud of this cohort in their ability to include, represent, experience, reflect, respect, tolerate, call out and have so much fun! I had a very special week and are grateful to Sam who attended the camp and spent many wonderful hours alongside the students in various capacities.

Robyn