OPAC Camp Adventures
I had the pleasure of joining Year 10 on their 3-day Urban Challenge through the city—a whirlwind adventure across buses, light rail, ferries, and plenty of walking, stretching from Bondi to Manly. We camped on Cockatoo Island and stayed at the Youth Hostel in The Rocks. In essence, it was an ‘adulting’ experience, where students had to navigate the city, collaborate in teams, and problem-solve on the fly. What stood out most was that it was a low-tech experience—no smartphones, no laptops—just real conversations and genuine connections. In a world saturated with screens, it was refreshing and important to see students engaging face-to-face.
Other camps across the school also offered a healthy blend of collaboration, physical activity, and challenge—a fantastic way to kick off the year. While parts of camp were intentionally uncomfortable, these moments were vital for personal growth, often requiring students to rely on and support each other.
Sherry Turkle, a renowned psychologist and professor at MIT, has written extensively about how technology shapes the way we connect and form our identities. Her research highlights the importance of stepping away from the digital world and engaging in real-life experiences to build character, resilience, and courage. School camps provide the perfect setting for this kind of growth.
Courage, of course, looks different for every student. For some, simply getting on the bus and leaving home takes tremendous bravery. For others, it might be speaking up in front of a group, taking on a high ropes course, or sleeping in an unfamiliar environment. Courage isn’t about being fearless—it’s about facing fears and moving forward despite them.
Research shows that outdoor education programs can boost self-confidence by 86%, with 73% of students reporting they felt more courageous after camp experiences. These moments of bravery, whether big or small, help students build resilience and strengthen their character, preparing them to take on future challenges with confidence and self-assurance.
Miss Menzie’s article on Wellbeing provides further practical, research-based strategies for developing courage in our young people.
God bless,
Mr Steve Owen
Deputy Principal – Head of Senior School
