2000 School Magazine

year 9

THE E. P. A. IN ACTION AT YABBA CREEK

The second Year 9 Camp this year was one full of both challenges and rewards. Extremely different from the first camp, this was the first time the staff at Brisbane Girls Grammar School Memorial Outdoor Education Centre had ever attempted this program with a Year 9 class. The camp was basically centred on a role-play scenario in which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had asked the class to unCover the suspect behind the supposed dumping of chemicals in Yabba Creek. As soon as we arrived on Monday, we filled out job applications' (using our real life qualifications) for the position to which we were best suited. Shortly after our positions were decided, and our all-important business cards printed, we began to prepare for the task which lay ahead After a bright and early start on Tuesday morning, we set off with our packs on a three-kilometre hike which took us to Borumba Dam. When we arrived, it became apparent that the thirty-knot winds would have us still canoeing to the proposed campsite at 8 p. in. ! We spent the night at a nearby campsite, and set off in the morning for an eightkilometre canoe trek, stopping along the way at designated points to search for clues. Having spent Wednesday night at our second campsite (where our business cards were used in such activities as trussicking and coloured dye fights), we were woken at 6 am. by a radio conversation between "Snuggles I"and "Snuggles 2" tone of whom sounded very suspiciously like Mr Munnings!) We then made the eight-kilometre canoejourney and three-kilometre hike back to the centre. Having some much-needed sleep on Thursday night, we were all set to resolve our challenge on Friday morning. However, there was one last activity before we left the centre to travel back to Brisbane: the Pole Jump! Usually reserved for Year 10s and above, kinvolves climbing a pole andjumping into the air in a harness to hit a ball suspended in the trees. Everyone who attempted this somewhat formidable task was greatly encouraged by all. Overall, the camp was both extremely beneficial and gratifying for everyone involved. Though quite challenging in some aspects (some of us have never even climbed a tree, let alone with a harness and several ropes in tow!), the new program proved a great success. Having completed our task and solved the mystery, we do have some words of advice for those 'following in our footsteps': firstly, that it would be impossible to do without the help and support of a team as encouraging as our class, and secondly: BRING PLENTY OF SOCKS!

^)^^!^'^ ESPRITPECO"Q @I^@^ip ,^".

20e Bnggs

,. ..

.. ..

~

. I. , ..!$::~ ...' ; .. ,!i \ .

. ^

I

-',*" ' ' ... I A ... I, ." ,, , .~ ,". ...' ..' " ' ' .. . * .' .=! \..' ~ '<' "1'3, ", " ' ' ' ~' . "'*if\ ' .. ;-.. j ...

co F, C a

.. .

co . .-

.,,, , .' I. ' ' - '--*-."."';,, "' ,.-"'

..

.

,

^.

Iv ., .,., __. . I . , ,* - ~'\- *. . ' " ' """' '~ . ' ' . < *,..,, 4444^ ..*' ; ,," ' . * ,... . ^ ,

\ ^ ^~.,.

ni , F,

\

\,

\:I 161 Go

- .

.

I

A,

,

,I

un

n.

,

e .e

^

,..

'S'

, '*

\~

"