Page 2 - 1984 Clippings
P. 2
High school pupils off adventuring
TOMORROW 120 wide-eyed fun-loving fourth formers and 15 seventh formers will return home to
Ngaruawahia fresh from a get-away-from-it-all adventure safari
on a remote spot in the Hauraki Gulf.
Waikato Times, 16 February 1984 trough of seas around the eastern issue regarding the sale of public
Since last Monday morning at end of the bay. land to a big businessman provided
six, the 135-strong band of Teenagers who test their another topic for discussion in class.
adventure seekers - pupils of courage by jumping from the The students have been preparing
Ngaruawahia High School — Ngaruawahia bridge into the for this camp since the end of last
have downed their books for a Waikato River usually find it gives year and they have undertaken work
slice of the great outdoor action. them a new thrill to try the jump in social studies related to it.
Their plan - to trek, swim, fish, from “The Rock”. Mr Grinter says as well as
canoe, sail, jump and horse-ride as Split into four groups, the academic benefits, the students are
far away as possible to excitement, students have also been involved in able to absorb a positive experience
exploration and fun. fishing with a net for breakfast, early in the new year. Fourth
formers are often in a state of flux,
But where in the world can 135 visiting New Zealand’s biggest he says, and the camp settles them
restless school kids cast their school redundant artillery gun base (built down and makes them happier.
books in the dust for a week of when a Japanese invasion seemed
uninterrupted adventure? imminent), exploring the tunnels and “The camp enables them to get
bush walks centred on four over- to know other class members and to
The one place said to offer it all night venues - the youth hostel, form a positive relationship with
is the Hauraki Gulf’s Waiheke Island Half Moon Bay beach, the Half staff. It improves their attitude to
- where many an adventure has Moon Bay motel and the Tunnels. school and school life because for
begun. many fourth formers, this will be a
And almost every time they let
So loaded with all the gear their hair down to do all these difficult year.”
needed for five days of fun, the things, the Island local “Gulf News” And he says, seventh formers
students bussed to Auckland’s dispatches a reporter to follow their who accompany the younger
Queen St. nearly a week ago and footsteps - the weekly knows the students can expand on their
then after travelling by ferry, set foot kids encounter plenty of fun along leadership skills.
on the island’s sandy shores. the way, and is there to record it.
“Our sixth formers undertake a
And tomorrow they return, but Despite being pursued by the leadership training course at the end
not before they complete the final media, probably the greatest of the year and this camp (as seventh
chapter in a storybook full of things experience for students has been the formers) is seen as a development of
to remember. experience of each other away from these skills.
Today’s activities include a school. Mr Grinter will also return with
cross country trek through native “The whole trip is just a new experience to add to his
bush, cockle collecting, snorkelling, invaluable to fourth formers,” says memory of five island camps
sailing, canoeing, , orienteering and social studies teacher and camp already.
a return to the 15-metre-high rocky organiser Chris Grinter.
outcrops at Cactus Bay - a real :It’s all great fun,
favourite with Ngaruawahia kids. “The Maori Affairs farm on the part of outdoor education. I love it,
island has provided topical interest and the kids love it.
Known affectionately as The for our students and last year, the
Rock, it is a cliff face falling into a
