Hayley's Reflections on Directing a Warriuka School Camp

Well, what can I say? Regent Year 7 camp this year was a blast!!! We had an amazing bunch of students to work with, fun staff and a great Warriuka team. I think this camp would definitely be a highlight of the year for me. As this was the first camp I’d directed I had been praying especially hard that God would really bless this camp and equip me with the skills I’d need for this new role. As always God was SO faithful and he was obviously at work throughout the week & answered these prayers and more. So what did we do? Here’s a little taster………

We did a range of activities with the students from beach Olympics, a ‘rafting survivor challenge’, ‘Adventure journey’, the Cape Naturalist lighthouse walk and tour of the lighthouse and a visit to Calgardup cave. (unfortunately Giants was closed) It was fantastic to see the groups working really well together, facing any challenges that came along and trusting each other.

The evening’s were pretty jam packed too with a Bush dance on the first night which was very energetic with dances such as ‘The birdie song’, the Macarena, Limbo, plus some more typical bush dance tunes. The second night we played ‘Foxholes’ where the students dig trenches on the beach to hide in and then have to get from a starting line to the finish point by hiding in the trenches and being sneaky. My personal favourite had to be the camp concert though- it was hilarious!!!!!! In Australian Idol fashion we had a panel of judges which consisted of the two teachers and myself. For some reason I had to be the mean judge. (obviously there was a lot of acting needed for me to do this well, as it’s really not in my nature) There were a wide selection of acts to suit all tastes. I think ‘Kyle burping’ had to be the most bizarre, yet funny performance of the night. Although, the ‘Human Table’ would also go down as a highlight. Carly and Dave also got to have a hair make-over- I think the girls did a good job- what do you think???? (Photo to come)

Warriuka time was also well received. We discussed a range of topics which included relating the ‘Footprints in the Sand’ poem to real life, we talked about how every member of the team is important and has different gifts to offer using Corinthians 12 as an example. Life as a journey was the theme for the third night and we discussed how sometimes life can be hard, even as a Christian, and how we can deal with life when it’s tough, such as pray about it, discuss it with others and read the bible. I was really encouraged with our group’s mature attitude and on the last night we encouraged them to “shine like stars in a wicked & depraved generation”(Phil 2)

A real tribute to our efforts was the fact that one of the girls said to her mum on the Friday night she got home from camp “Mum I’m homesick for camp”. We were also privileged enough to be invited to the Year 7 graduation and it was great to hear that for a lot of the students camp was one of the highlights of their year.

For me this camp was a great way to end up my internship at Warriuka. It meant that I could put into practice all the things I’ve learnt this year but also that I could try out a new role. I enjoyed directing although it did provide a few unexpected challenges, such as one of the students hurting her arm and having to have it checked out, but on the whole it was a really fantastic camp to direct. The students were a pleasure to spend time with, the staff were friendly and supportive and I had a fab Warriuka team whom I knew I could rely on. And obviously we have an AWESOME God, who is faithful who answered our prayers and worked in and through us. My hope and prayer is that the students would continue to build on their relationships with him and that they would be encouraged to keep going and growing in faith.
- HaylesX

The Wonders of Warriuka.

To be perfectly honest I don’t want to be writing this article because it means that my internship is over and I am off home in a few days time!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well as many of you know I came over in January having never been camping before and to be honest I was a bit of a girlie girl! I have to admit before coming over I did wonder ‘What on earth am I doing?’ but I really felt that this was where God wanted me so I trusted Him and he hasn’t let me down. This year has been an amazing experience for me, it’s had challenges, highlights, hilarious moments and occasional tears! It has been a year where I’ve learnt new skills, spent time in God’s creation, and grown personally. Most of all though, I have learnt to be more dependent on God and I have grown so much in my relationship with him and have a new enthusiasm and energy for doing His work.

I’ll just share with you some of my highlights of the year…….

My first Warriuka camp was a flat water rafting camp with Leschenault Catholic Primary. This is still one of my favourite camps this year, (despite the fact that there were no flushing toilets!!) My group of Year 7s were so keen and worked SO well as a team, they were a real joy to spend time with. Kristy, their teacher, was lovely too. On the last day we even joined our raft together with one of the other groups to form one big raft which was named “The Love Boat”. Thinking of this camp still brings a smile to my face!!!!

Our intern hike aptly named “The Walpole Wander” would have to be another of my highlights this year (see my previous blog article to find out exactly what we got up to). It was challenging but I was reminded so much of God as we walked in his beautiful creation that it definitely gets included here!!

I have to mention the Warriuka team as a highlight too (they didn’t even pay me to do this!!!!!). It’s been a real pleasure to work with the other members of the team this year. They are a great bunch of people who have heaps of outdoor skills and experience, but they also have an enthusiasm for what they do, which is clear on camps. I’ve been really encouraged by their faith & relationships with God and have enjoyed our daily team prayer time. The training events we’ve had this year have been challenging, but also fun, as they gave us time to spend time together as a team and allowed us to strengthen our relationships with each other. The Albany Amble, a few weeks ago, was a good time to spend together as a team. I think the fact that we were ‘bush bashing’ some of the time & that at some points I had to crawl through the bush on my hands and knees highlighted for me how far I’ve come this year. We also got to experience the wonderful scenarios that the boys throw at us!!!! I was not at all amused though when Ross decided to get lost at around midnight one night so we had to all get up and try and find him-good one Ross!!!!!!

For me directing Regent Christian College’s Year 7 camp would be another highlight. It not only gave me an opportunity to put into practice all the skills I’d learnt this year but it also has to be another one of my favourite camps. It was a small camp (only 20 students) but it meant that there was a real community feel to it and I felt that God really blessed us with some fantastic students and staff to work with. I also had one of my favourite Warriuka times of the year on the last night of camp. I pray that God will continue to work in and through these students’ lives.

I have so many great memories from this year and upon reflection there are so many things I’ve loved, but there’s only so much I can include here!(otherwise I could go on forever!). I’ve also loved learning to kayak and have had heaps of fun kayaking in white-water trying to ride stoppers and fairy-gliding etc. I’ve enjoyed spending time with the Warriuka team, the staff and students on camps and most of all I’ve grown in my own faith through spending time with God in His creation. I’m not quite sure what the future holds but one thing’s for sure I know that God has a plan for my life & I’ll continue to trust him in everything. I know that “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”


This year has probably been one of the best of my life so far and I’m truly thankful to God for sending me here. I’ve met some really amazing people who it’s been fantastic to spend time with, work with, live with and become friends with. I’ll miss you all. I’m sure that next year’s interns will be blessed in many ways as they begin in 2007.
- HaylesX