Information for Day One of Camp

Day One	Activity	Gear	Food
PYP Aims: Team work ²   Caring ²   Communicators ²   Cooperation Test of stamina ²   Risk takers ²   Open-minded ²   Commitment Sense of achievement: ²   Enthusiasm ²   Thinkers ²   Reflective	Wairere – North/South Tramp ²  7-9 hours duration ²  Initial climbing for 90mins ²  (Wairere Falls) ²  Easy undulating walk for rest of the journey ²  Entire walk is under bush canopy ²  Early start – 7.45am walking. Bus leaves at 6.30am sharp.	1.       Thee layer rule ² Polyprop thermals ² Quick dry t-shirt ² Polar fleece or woolen jersey 2.       Shorts 3.       Woolen socks (gaiters – optional) 4.       Comfortable footwear – with decent tread 5.       Warm beanie 6.       Water proof raincoat 7.       Personal Medication (antihistamine and inhalers) 8.       Whistle around their necks All food and water and any clothing taken off are carried in a backpack (usually a school bag). Their survival kit will be inside also.	1.       High energy snacks for morning & afternoon tea. eg. Scroggin, dried fruit, nuts, muesli bar 2.       Sandwiches for lunch (enough to satisfy a large appetite) 3.       Minimum of 1.5L of WATER. An ice-cream container is ideal to carry their lunch.

Gear List for Aongatete Lodge

Here's a checklist for you to look over when you are doing your final packing for camp:

Please pack the clothing in a soft bag, as small as possible.

Survival Kit – as outlined here.

Physical Activities:

warm woolen/polyprop tops (at least 2) 

warm woolen/polyprop long johns  

Polar fleece or woolen sweatshirt

footwear for tramping (with good tread) 

beanie (woolen or polar fleece)

socks (woolen) plenty

shorts (Quick-drying material, above-knee)

t-shirts (Quick-drying material)

waterproof raincoat, with hood (mid-thigh)

optional - woolen/polar fleece gloves/mittens

The students are not to wear anything cotton for our daytime activities

Around camp:

torch (new battery)

jeans/trackpants (for evenings, in the lodge)

t-shirts  

sweatshirt (for around camp)

socks

scuffs/croc type

pyjamas

underwear   

sleeping bag (& blanket if needed)      

pillow & pillowcase  (optional - single sheet)                                              

2 towels                                                               

plastic bags (X2 for washing)

toiletries                                                              

handkerchiefs                                                

large plastic bag for bedding (overnight camp-out)

baking for morning/afternoon teas and suppers (in an ice-cream container) - labelled if they contain dairy products

Camp Activity/ Freetime Requirements

Pens/pencils

A book to read

Pack of cards/indoor games (optional)

Optional Extras

Camera (at own risk)

A practical, NOT a fashionable, wardrobe is needed.

Here are some photos of a previous camp, so you can see students dressed appropriately for activities:

Pre-camp Raincoat Check

Thanks for taking the pictures Chevelle

With the forecast for camp being damp, our raincoat check took on a renewed importance. It is really important that all coats do their job - keeping students dry. We check everyone's coats before we leave, along with students' thermals, socks and survival kits. Only two days to go...we're getting really excited.

Survival Kit

One of the pre-camp requirements is that students put together a survival kit. A survival kit is a small package of things that could be used in an emergency.  

A survival kit is a great thing to have.  I take mine with me whenever I go for a hike, even if it should only be a short, well-signposted hike.  

This is what the students must have in their kits:


Cord: This has a multitude of uses, the best being to tie something up as a shelter, or to use in place of a broken shoelace or belt.

Whistle: This is used to signal rescuers with three short, loud blasts.  At our camp, students will have it around their necks whenever we leave base.

Waterproof Matches: These are brilliant because they'll light when damp.  I carry mine in a small waterproof container, like the one on the right.  This is an old film canister (not easy to come by today).  Make sure you put the striker from the box in too.

Rubber: This is from a bicycle inner tube.  Rubber is brilliant for starting a fire.  This is because it catches fire easily and burns hot and slow to give small twigs time to catch alight and then place thicker wood on top.

Emergency silver blanket:  These can be purchased from $2 type stores.  These do not warm someone, but they are very good at keeping our body heat in.

Small notebook and pencil: This has a number of uses, including leaving signs for rescuers if you are moving towards water, keeping a record of someone with you who may be unwell, such as their pulse. It can also be used to entertain yourself.

Fabric sticking plasters and a small compression bandage:  Fabric plasters stay on better if you get wet.  Much better for blisters because they don't move.

Large plastic bag:  This is a robust bag that has a variety of uses, such as storage, putting clothes in as a cushion or even carrying water.

A large piece of Gladwrap (cling film):  This is to use if someone has a burn.  After the cooling period it can be loosely draped around the burn to keep it clean (the risk of infection if large).  It can't be tight because burns swell and weep.

Lollies: Individually wrapped lollies (such as barley sugars) can also be included. There only needs to be 5 or 6.



Other items can be included when you get back from camp.  For example, I have a pair of medical scissors and a pocket knife in mine, but these are not allowed for our students to take on camp. I also keep a compass in my survival kit.