Camp KaitawaBy Danielle

Interesting Introduction OMG! The awesome Year 5’s of

Reignier Catholic School were exploding with emotions as we

started the long journey to the one and only Camp Kaitawa! Little did

we know about the challenges ahead. Crystal blue lakes, humungous mountains,

spectacular bush walks, slippery, sliding mud and smelly, smoky air. What a challenging , adventurous

and tiring week!

Magnificent Monday Finally we started our first major

walk around camp. We stopped at the stunning Green Lake. The water was the most beautiful,

clear, mesmerizing water I had ever seen! Lastly we stopped at the

steep, steep pipeline. Next minute we found ourselves walking up it.

After what seemed like hours, we’d reached the top and…. I needed to pee. So I had to pee in the bush! When we got back to Camp, we

had a yummy dinner, tasty dessert and went to bed thinking about the

day ahead.

Terrific Tuesday

Everyone woke up with one thing on their minds. The long, exhausting

Ngamoko walk. Firstly we walked to a 800-1000 year old Rata tree. The length

around the base was 16metres! We carried on through a beautiful, young, native Rainforest. Although we were

full of sweets, chocolate and scroggin we were all huffing and puffing. When

we reached the top we were 1050 metres above sea level and the view was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!! We could see Lake Waikaremoana, a few boats and rainforests way across the

other side. I peed in the bush 4 times!! The walk took us 7-8 long, hot, tiring

hours. By the time we got back I was exhausted, weary, sleepy and majorly

worn out!!

Wonderful Wednesday After we’d had a delicious, hot, cooked

breakfast and done our (arrgh) chores, we packed our day packs ready to start the Loop Track walk to the spectacular waterfalls. Afterwards, we did a walk to Lake Waikareti. I really enjoyed it and…I peed in the bush again! When we got

back to camp we started an action packed confidence obstacle course.

We had to crawl under big, black tyres, climb over high, wooden walls, walk on long, scary tight ropes and much more. Finally it was bedtime and I fell asleep

as soon as my head hit the pillow!!

Thrilling Thursday Yay! Caving day! We started by driving to

the beginning of the caves. Next we started the walk, keeping our eyes out for the big, dangerous, hidden Tomos. There were 8

muddy, wet, slippery caves that we had to crawl through. So by the end of it our hands

and knees were pretty dirty although I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. To end the day we had a cookout. In our groups we

had to cook a meal over an open fire. My group cooked Nachos and it was very

mouth watering. For dessert we got given marshmallows, chocolate and banana

wrapped in tinfoil. Then we had to cook it in the embers of the fire. It was the best

dessert I had ever tasted!

Fabulous Friday To end our

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious week we packed our gear and went to play a fun game of seaweed with

Mrs Johnson whilst the adults cleaned the camp. To quickly we were back in the cars on our way back home. Camp Kaitawa had been the best experience of my whole entire life!! My favourite thing was caving but I really

enjoyed my whole week. I was really glad to be coming home,

seeing my family and sleeping in my own bed!