I recently ran two VCE: Success and Resilience workshops for Westall Secondary College students at their school camp in Neerim East.
The camp is called Forest Edge and it’s about one and half hour drive from my place; through the back hills with long winding roads and lovely bush scenery. It rained all the way there but it was a very relaxing drive though on the way back my fuel tank empty sign flashed and I was a long way from a service station but I managed to get to one just outside of Yarra Junction.
The Forest Edge camp has a beautiful setting and the first workshop, held during the morning, was run in the hall with rain pelting down on the tin roof making it difficult to be heard. But having run these workshops for several years and in all kinds of conditions I focused on the task at hand and it went well. They enjoyed the ‘face recognition success test’ and I got a few laughs from the students.
The second workshop was held in the small conference room surrounded by modern self contained rooms where the students slept over the three days of the camp.
My sabre demonstration was well received by both groups and it certainly gave me a good workout.
It was a very enjoyable day and the initial feedback I received from the VCE co-ordinator included “…very happy with the outcome, the students seemed engaged and I think it was a very worthwhile activity”. He’ll conduct an individual survey with the students soon and get back to me with more feedback so I’m looking forward to hear what the students thought themselves.
I’ve run a few workshops for students at school camps and they are always fun to do. It gives me an opportunity to get out and about and there’s a different Chi (energy) as compared to a school environment.
I’m looking forward to the next school camp.
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