Dinner Night 2

                                                                
                                                                          Dinner

By Oskar

Mmmm. WOW, my food is DELICIOUS tonight .  I was just finishing my stir fry when I felt a plop on my head. How weird. I kept on eating. There’s another one. Plip, plop, splash. There were lots of plops now.  

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”. everyone starts to scream as the rain start to splash down on us . I sprint for the lodge as if it were the only safe place on the planet . Ah. Finally I’m warm again. Room 20 huddles around the warm fire.

Then Mr. Moore came into the room that we were sitting and we started to share stories about some horrible reliever teachers .He told us about a naughty boy that broke his grandma’ bell and a students bell  and how he turned out to be a nice boy after all .  After we had heard lots

~ Oskar

Waikuku Marshmallow Challenge

   THE MARSHMALLOW CHALLENGE

By Florence

Zoe, Katie, Brianna, Charlotte, Ela and I were sitting peacefully at the table in the warmth of Waikuku lodge, playing a highly entertaining game of Spoons (a card game I introduced to our class) .

So there we were sniggering as Charlotte continued to play, still not aware of the fact that all the spoons had been taken. “ WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, MY FRIEND” we sang, pretending to merely have an earworm, although it was really just a code for “We’ve got all the spoo-oons, we’ve got all the spoo-oons” . After about half a minute later Charlotte finally looked up and realized that she had lost, and we all cracked up. Mr. Eames strode in.

“What are you playing?”

We all grinned ,delighted at the idea of involving a teacher in the game. We should have known that Mr. Eames would have his own wacky way of doing things.

Once the rules had been explained, Mr Eames dug out an enormous pack of marshmallows. He placed one on each spoon.

“ Instead of just picking up a spoon when you have four cards, you must keep the marshmallow balanced on the spoon and lift it into your mouth. If you drop the marshmallow on the floor, you have to pick it up and EAT it.” He grinned his characteristic cheeky grin.

This proved to be much harder than it had initially sounded, since everyone else was trying to knock your marshmallow off your spoon. But somehow we managed it, and before we knew it, we were being dragged into building-a-rocket-out-of-marshmallows-and-skewers-and-a-plastic-spoon contests, eat-the-marshmallows-off-the-skewer-then-unwrap-a-fruit- burst-with-your-teeth tests, and finally an egg-and-spoon race along the nightline route, except with a marshmallow. This one turned out to be particularly torturous, as the route is the most bumpy and  bush covered you have ever walked on, which consequently meant that marshmallows were constantly dropping on to the forest floor. The problem: No touching the marshmallows on the spoons. This rule resulted in rather a lot of cheating when Mr Eames’s back was turned!

In the end, we made it through, exhausted, twig-scratched, and muddy, and all received the ULTIMATE prize; our own dirty, partially eaten marshmallow, AND the plastic spoon we used. Gosh, what lucky ducks we were. :) That had to be my favourite day of camp though.

                                         ~ Florence

Down time Waikuku

Brianna

Zoe

Marshmallow Challenges

By Brianna

It was just a lazy afternoon at Waikuku Lodge. Florence, Zoe, Charlotte, Ela, Eleanor, Angus and I. We were sitting at the table playing a game of Spoons. Basically there were six spoons in the middle, as there were seven of us, and we had to take them. We were cracking up every time the last person realised all the spoons had been taken. That’s when Mr Eames walked in. He put a marshmallow on each of the spoons. “Here we go,” I thought. “Now, instead of picking up the spoons, you have to flick the marshmallow, off the spoon, into your mouth,” Mr Eames  explained, a cheeky grin on his face. “If you drop the marshmallow, you have to pick it up with the spoon and eat it.” Let the games begin!

The mood was intense. Quiet. That was before the first person made an attempt to eat a marshmallow. Marshmallows and spoons went flying. Katie picked the last one up, but I wanted it, badly. I grabbed another spoon and tried to take it off her, but only succeeded in knocking it on the ground. By the time we had played three games, I had managed to get two marshmallows. But Mr Eames wasn’t finished with us just yet.

“OK, you need a plastic spoon, two kebab sticks and four marshmallows. You have to build a rocket.” That sounds... interesting. We all set to work, but the task proved tougher than we had imagined. My finished product didn’t look too stable at first, but looking around, I thought I’d done pretty well. “Ok, now, you have to put your hands behind your back.” We all obediently did so. “When I say go, you have to eat the marshmallows off your rocket. Once you’ve done that, take a fruit burst in your mouth, and try to get the wrapper off without using your hands.” We spied the fruit bursts on the table, and realised there were only three. It had become a race - for lollies.

“Three, two, one, GO!” It became a mad race to finish first. Florence and I kept getting sticky kebab sticks in our hair. It didn’t take long for the fruit bursts to get taken, yet no one succeeded in getting the wrappers off. “Now, get another spoon, and a marshmallow, and come outside.” This challenge seemed never ending. We curiously followed Mr Eames outside to begin the next part of our adventure.

~Brianna

The Marshmallow Challenge.

By Zoe

“3,2,1 Go!” said Mr eames as I pushed the spoon off my very inaccurate rocket sculpture with my nose. The sculpture was made of 2 skewers, 4 marshmallows, and of course, a spoon.

“Ahh!” I heard someone mutter. I guessed it was Florence. It sounded like her at least. I started to bite the marshmallow of its stick.

Oh no. I thought. I have to get 3 more marshmallows off these sticks. By the time that I got to eating my last marshmallow someone was leaning across the table picking something yellow up off the table with their mouth. Charlotte. I forgot about that part. We had to unwrap a fruit burst with our mouth, but there were only three fruitbursts. Quickly, I lunged forward grabbing the fruit burst between my teeth and then leaned back into my original position. Obviously, it wasn’t that easy. The fruit burst dropped out of my mouth and onto the floor.

“No!” I yelped. Everyone started to laugh, as I picked up the dusty lollie up off the floor.

“Ahh!” I said. “It’s so hard! How do you do this?!” I bit the wrapper and it started to rip. 5 minutes later I was still struggling when finally, the plastic-like paper came off.

“Thank goodness!” I sighed, relieved that the wrapper, after a long fight, gave in.

~Zoe

Mr Eames

                                                             Mr Eames

By Josh

He struck a pose, standing on the rock like a hero. Light shone down on him, it seemed so...cliche. He grinned like he was on tv. Behind him the moss of the chasm creeped down toward the icy water. I had to resist the urge to push him off the edge into the cool liquid below. It would be interesting to see if that cheeky grin was still showing on his face.

~ Josh

Cold Dip

Cold Dip

By Michael

The water sloshed inside my shoes as I trudged along at the bottom of the deep dark chasm I took a temporary look up to see a magnificent pool with a series of splashes going on in it. Later I realized it was people jumping into the pool. I got overrun by the thought of swimming.  

I leaped into the air and landed in the freezing water, the cold hit as a stream of cold coursed through my veins. With adrenaline and all my dieing strength I leaped out of the water and landed in the shallows. I scrambled out and the big question hit me, why was I jumping in the freezing cold water in the first place?

~Michael

Submerged

By Liv

The bitter water stared up at me with a cold glare, begging me to hop in. Gingerly I stepped into the chilled rushing stream, an icy blast rocketing up me. Shivering, I took another snail paced step towards the enormous rock looming above us. I was eager to jump off but I just wasn’t quite sure. I had already had a swim in the intense water and wasn’t sure if I was up for any more just yet...

My numb feet felt glued to the rough rugged rock. With slight hesitation I escalated my legs into the air. Everything began to turn into slow motion as I plunged into the deep blue below. The sensation climbed up my  legs, pulling me down deeper and deeper. I floated up to the surface, gasping for air. There were a few more classmates submerging as I paddled to the side clambering out of the never ending, down reaching water. Entering the earth again...

~Liv

Swimming in the Chasm

By Zac

Shock consumes my body, as my head dunks into the ice like water. Now nine of us have dared to jump into the chilled water in the spectacular chasm. A gripping cold takes hold of my body, leaving me shivering in the freezing water with goose bumps covering me all over. I get changed and start the long cold walk back.

~Zac

Holes

Waikuku Chasm

The Camp Chasm Swim 

By Finn Mo

If I thought a walk through freezing water stuck in the middle of a giant chasm was bad it was nothing compared to what lay ahead...

THE SWIMMING HOLE with its bone chilling, teeth gritting, head aching forming water.

Once we reached the swimming hole we had a chance to swim in it with whatever gear we brought with us. For me and most other boys that was just swimming shorts.

The water must have been like -2 degrees because when I stepped in my whole body went cold, that’s when I saw the girls were somehow coping with the cold and I thought it would be easy. I took another step and at that moment Michael stepped into the water so I knew I didn't have to cope with the swim by myself.

Soon Zac,Michael & Thomas and I were jumping into the freezing, watery. The moment I went under my whole body froze. I could barely stand it. All I could hear was cheering, shouting, splashing and talking, this gave me enough distraction to keep going.

Just when I thought that was it. Mr Eames asked the group of us if we could fall in the water backwards  to get a falling snapshot even though I knew It would be freezing but I was willing to give it one last shot.

As we lined up I realised this was completely insane I nearly got turned into an ice cube. I wondered what was going to happen me this time? I readied myself for my second leap... "JUMP" everything went so fast and I was in and out in less than second.

I felt proud myself for taking the leap and not chickening out.

Finn Mo

Chasm Walk

By Marina

Walking down the hill, brushing past bushes and trees, I could hear the splashing of the river, as the rapids crashed over my feet. My shoes started to fill with freezing cold water, each step I took sounded like “Splish, splash, splosh.”, entering the chasm was like entering a world of darkness, I couldn’t see where I was going.It was dark as coal. Halfway through I looked back, I couldn’t see the entrance all I could see was the track ahead of me.The green walls would go sky high and the big trees would cover the top of the chasm making it look like a roof. Walking on the green mossy rocks made walking turn to ice-skating and the strong current of the river made it hard to balance. Mirella and I were walking together and each time there was a slippery rock or a deep hole, we would always grab on to each other to keep our balance. The water was probably as cold as ice, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was to have fun and enjoy myself!  

~Marina

That first step

By Livvy

Just one, tentative step.

Easy.

Gently… aaugh!

An icy blast rushed up my legs, making me gasp.

I stepped again, my foot surging through the water, testing each slippery rock, and gazed into the inky mouth of the chasm. Ready, to swallow us whole.

That first step into that massive, yawning mouth, again, took my breath away, but not because of the cold.

Rock, rock everywhere. Rising and falling, as if moulded by giant hands. Towering above us. A thin shaft of sunlight - blurred green from the curtain of the plants reaching down from oh so very far above, faintly lit up the walls.

The only sound a constant swish, swish, swish, of the river licking our knees.

                                                                                                                                       ~Livvy

The Chasm

By Emma

Cold water seeps through my shoes, making me gasp as I grapple against the current. Let your eyes wander for a second and you could tumble to soggy clothes related doom. Stumbling through the icy water I gaup at my surroundings. Momentarily the stinging cold is forgotten. I slide and nearly tumble. Focus.

How? How do you focus in a place of such beauty. That is so old, it has the seen thousands of years come and go? Silently watching his the world moulded by ice.

I drag myself back to reality and prepare to again plunge my foot into the bitter depths.

~Emma

The Chasm

By Ela

Water sloshed through my tramping boots as I waded through a knee deep stream. Was this the chasm? I was disappointed. A short walk through a shallow stream?!

We left the river and walked up and over a small rise, through a similar stream, and through 10 minutes of bush. We stood on the bank of a waist deep, but not too wide, river. It was coming out of a large cavern; a cave with a wide crack running along the roof.

It was a breathtaking scene. the large, marginally dark cavern, plants dangling through the cracked roof. It was like the mouth of a giant serpent, a long, winding cavern, with sections of deep water, and others of sandy gravel islands.

This was more like it, I was going to enjoy this!  

                                                                                                                                                          ~Ela

   The Chasm Walk

By Abel

The shrubs begin to disappear from sight as we step closer to the watery chasm. We slowly enter, and small shouts echo through the chasm as water seeps through people. I step in jumpily to get it over and done with. I shudder as water seeps into my shoes and freezes my toes. Someone shouts.

“Freezing!”

And Mr. Eames humorously retorts.

“Don’t be silly, if it was freezing it would be ice.”

The water was inside my waterproof shoes, and the water was waist height. I don’t think my shoes are that waterproof anymore. A glistening eel inches by and everyone stops quietly to watch.

I now know the beautiful Patuna chasm is going to be an amazing experience.

~Abel

   The Jump

By Eleanor 

I look down to the glistening water below me. I take a last look at my class and close my eyes.  And jump. As soon as my feet touch the numbing water of the chasm, a tingling sensation overcomes me, I crash down to the bottom, colliding with the rocks and sand sending surging pain through my body. I flap my hands taking a big breath as I reach the surface.  I open my eyes again. Tears well up and trickle down my face, my hands support my bruised knee. I slap the water attempting to swim to the dry rocks.

~Eleanor

By Jackson

My boots felt like they weighed 100 pounds as I trudged down the murky river. Every step I took required immense strength to haul my boot up. Woah! My arms flailed around as I tried to keep my balance on a slippery rock. Luckily I fell into a pile of soft gravel next to the flow. “We’re here!” Mr. Eames shouted at the top of his voice. I took in the scenery of this place. All around there was a pool of deep water, with trees hanging down from the cliffs. In the centre stood a small island and behind the pool was a great cliff, that had been split in half by an earthquake. A small waterfall seeped down from a crack in the cliff and splashed serenely into the water. The sounds of peacefulness and tranquility were suddenly interrupted by excited screams of the class. Unfortunately, someone thought it was a great idea to go for a swim. Suddenly, I saw a blast of water rocket up from the lake. Soon more followed as everyone got in. Alright, I give in, I thought to myself. I dived into the water, realising the shock of the cold over my body. Anyone would be crazy to find this cold water relaxing!

~Jackson

Breakfast Is Served

The Fire Place.       
By Zech

Woosh! Crackle! Crunch! went the fireplace. That day Thomas and I had chopped wood for the fireplace. For doing this Mr Moor let us light the fires.

When we had breakfast I sat by the fire.

I liked the smell of the wood burning in the air, the heat from it and how beautiful it was. I will always like fires that are under control.

Sitting there like a cat curled up, purring, I felt like I could fall back asleep. I felt safe beside the fire. I felt protected. The fantastic flames created a scenery like no other.
Zech

Early Morning Jog

                                                                     
                                                                            Jogging

By Finn

Some things take self control, and some things take A LOT of self control. One of the things that fits into the second category is getting up, on school camp, at seven in the morning and going on a half hour jog. Yet somehow about half the class, as well as Mr Eames, managed it. I think it might have something to do with the fact that Mr Eames said that the people who didn't come had to make breakfast for the people who did. So there I was, huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf. I thought about stopping to walk. Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin, I then thought to myself, and pushed on. We ran ALL the way up the steep dirt path that we’d tramped up yesterday, and then ALL the way back down again. We were expecting a delicious breakfast ready made for us when we got back, but what we found was disgraceful. The people who should have been cooking our breakfast had cooked THEIR OWN breakfast! So began another day of Room 20’s camp.

~Finn

A bivouac shelter for Mr Ataera

                 Bivouac Shelter for Mr Ataera                                        

By Liv

It was a long first day, time seeming to drag on forever. We were still recovering from what seemed like the nine hour tramp when a surprise guest arrived.  We were all very excited when Mr Ataera appeared from out of the car.

Not long after he arrived, he decided he would take me, Zoe, Eleanor, Zech, Finn, Angus and Charlotte out on a challenge to make him a bivouac shelter to sleep in. At first I didn’t actually think he was going to sleep in it.

It got darker and darker and Mr Ataera’s bivouac shelter was still not finished...

Thank you for coming on camp with us Mr Ataera! We really enjoyed it.

                                                                                                ~ From Room 20

Night Line

By Josh

In pitch darkness I walked up a hill, through the trees . My only guidance was a rope, twisting and turning into the black. I couldn’t see. Ahead of me was unknown, behind me unseeable smashed branches and to my left and to my right danger. And then the rope was gone, my fingers were left hanging in thin air and I was alone stuck in the wild, grasping for the rope, my only hope.

~Josh

Nightline

By Livvy

Night,

Has been painting again

All colour

Has gone

The familiar

Is now unfamiliar

The world around

Me

Is now splattered

In an inky black coat

I have to fumble

And touch

And listen

Sight, you see

Has completely deserted me

I clasp the rope tightly

My only assistance

- Lose it

And I’m lost forever

I can’t go on

I must go on

Keep stumbling

And feeling

I pull

I push

Brush branches from my eyes

Now night is resting

Sprawled flat above us

He is tired you see

Painting is so hard

I glance up at him

His cloak is covered in tiny holes

Little pricks of light are peeping through

He is helping me climb

I can faintly glimpse

My surroundings

My hands are sore and scratched

Must get to the top

Does this rope ever end?

I need to see

Something

Anything

I’ve done it!

I am here!

I’ve finished!

The rope trails away

Back down through the bush

Now I can see night at his fullest

The roof of trees has parted

His cloak is stained and smudgy

He has been very busy

And though all I’m seeing is

Merely,

A tatty old cloak

It takes my breath away

                                                           ~Livvy