Awakeri School

Room 14 Waihi Beach Camp

13 - 16 March 2018

We are in Katikati, about to start orienteering around the town. A friendly horse comes to say hello.	Frank plays the piano outside the Katikati Information Centre.
Ollie's group have a look at Humphrey the Sea Elephant.	Every night we have a sing before bed. A favourite song is Surfin' USA. Soon it will be Delta Dawn!
On Wednesday morning, our bus didn't turn up so we drove to Waihi. We did the underground mine experience at Martha Mine.	Chris and Grant were interviewed on the green screen, before we went underground.
Grant looks very professional as he tells us about safety in the mine.	Phoebe is happy to be holding $1800 worth of gold (one ounce) and $240 worth of silver.
Phil from the mine told us three cool stories, including one about a man who stole a lot of gold and buried it in his garden.	While we were looking at the open cast mine, a rock fall happened. The mine has not been working because of slips.
We board the train to Waikino. Can we get the trucks passing by to toot?	At Waikino we have lunch at the Victoria Stamper Battery, then we play master tag for a while. Ollie and Joseph are trying to tag each other, while Asha and Lucy do paper scissors rock because they tagged at the same time.
Lucy, Ella, Phoebe, Addie and Asha stop under the old cyanide tank supports.	Our group at Waikino station
LJ organises some cheating to try and get a record score of toots. Sadly it doesn't work, we only get 20.5 toots. The train even stops so Mr Hawkes's hat can be retrieved from when it blew off on the first trip.	There are stuffed toys and train conductors' hats to pay with in the carriages. Odin, Charlie and Lucy enjoy themselves.
Back at camp we go for a swim at Anzac Bay.	Keep the ball off the boys was one game!
Thursday morning, and there is fritata for breakfast.	Mikayla BR did lots of helping in the kitchen. She also made some tasty muffins. She supervises Jamie's toast buttering.
Outside, there are always games of bat down, touch and just swinging on the tyre. Asha get some help from Megan and Sharlee.	We are off into the bush. Kohen, Phoebe, Jasmine and Cody are looking for answers to their treasure hunt.
Sharlee, Charlie and Addie give a big kauri tree a hug.	There is also a game of murder going on. Here is Lucy, dead under a log. The murderer did really well, killing nearly the whole group and not getting found out.
Poor Myles and Glenn both fell into the stream, Myles on the way into the bush and Glenn on the way back!	Jamie has to do the blind tree identification test. LJ makes sure he doesn't cheat.
Now we are at Sapphire Springs. First there is a free swim, then lunch, then water safety activities, like non-stop swimming for 5 minutes, using sidestroke to tow someone, treading water...	The games of keep the ball get rather competitive! Fearghus, Phoebe and Jamie attack LJ and Shane.
Jamie might have trouble escaping from this situation! Mitchell is ready to leap in and help.	Thursday night is mock court time. Prosecutor Ella reads the charges and judge Chris controls the court. Most people are guilty!
There are lots of fun arguments and excuses.	Asha gives some evidence about LJ's cringy dancing. Guilty!!
A group of boys are in the dock for screaming like girls on the imaginary roller coaster seat. Guilty! The punishment was to fake being on a roller coaster, but making no noise!	Brodi is a witness for Ella, when Jamie prosecuted her for throwing sticks at him.
The judge asks the jury if Jamie is guilty... probably!	The last day of camp. We pack up early and head to Waimarino. Emma our instructor organises everything. Here we are putting on our life jackets before we head out kayaking. Make sure it's tight!
The helpful parents launch the kids out onto the river.	We do rafting up, learn to t-x rescue, swap kayaks, paddle kneeling, standing, play games, fall out...
The 'helpful' LJ tips Mr Hawkes out when we come back.	Now for the shore activities. The hydro slide is very fast! Chris Butler has just realised how fast it is!
Mitchell, Ollie and co enjoy the slip and slide.	The UFO is hard to climb onto, but has its own mini blob, slide and water trampoline.
We get to blob each other. Ollie blobs Sharlee.	Some people were launched a long way into the air! Fearghus takes flight when LJ blobs him.
Kohen v Ollie does not look like a fair fight on the Gladiator Pole.	Mitchell v Ollie this time. Ollie has a nice strong stance. Jamie patiently waits his turn. Kohen climbs back for another go!
	NOT the recommended way to come off the hydro slide Odin! This might hurt! Jamie has just released his grip on the Tarzan swing, which will become the Jane swing when Sharlee has her turn.