Abseiling into a water-filled canyon, navigating through World Heritage rainforest, becoming an accredited volunteer rural fire fighter and achieving surf life saving credentials – students at The Armidale School spent an adventurous Activities Week stepping out of their comfort zones and learning more about themselves.
Cadets trekked, canoed and canyoned at Nymboida Canoe Centre near Grafton, while in Year 11, boys in the Rural Fire Service program gained their bushfire credentials with the Dumaresq Brigade or achieved their Surf bronze medallions, as part of a program with Sawtell Surf Life Saving Club. Year 10 and 11 students in the Pioneers program trekked, fished and swam in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.
Meanwhile at school, Year 6 hosted the annual visit from Mosman Prep School in Sydney, their visitors getting a big slice of country life visiting a local farm, the Walcha Dairy, fossicked at Uralla and took in local sites including Blue Hole.
Headmaster Murray Guest, who visited most of programs, said it brought out the best in both students and staff.
“This huge logistical exercise covers a diverse range of activities that share the common ambition to challenge our students in ways that will show them that they are capable of more than they thought possible,” he said.
“This is an ambition that this school has held dear throughout its history and it is every bit as important now as it was 100 years ago. This is why our Activities program has never been a voluntary exercise and why our staff give of their time and energy so generously to make it happen.”
Cadets undertake a ropes exercise at Nymboida.
Connor Stainton, Lewis Taylor and Beiley Hanes assisted with backburning operations at Mt yarrowyck as part of their week gaining rural fire credentials with Dumaresq Rural Fire Service brigade.
Kobi Hall prepares to abseil into a canyon.
Henry Coldham, Sam Jackson-Bolton and other Year 11 boys sandbag as service to Sawtell SLSC during their week at the coast getting their surf bronze medallions.
