A sunrise summit, four days of hiking, a very wet campsite and plenty of laughter made for a memorable conclusion to our Year 9 Challenge Program.
From 12–15 October, our Year 9 students travelled to Girraween National Park for the pinnacle experience of their year-long Challenge journey. The four-day hiking camp brought together the resilience, perseverance, independence and teamwork students have been developing throughout the program, giving them the opportunity to put those qualities into practice in the beautiful surroundings of God's creation.
Students tackled challenging hikes, summitted Bald Rock, navigated a very rainy second day and even set off in the dark for a sunrise hike to the top of the Pyramid. Along the way, they encouraged one another, shared plenty of laughs and discovered just how much they were capable of achieving.
One of the important goals of the Challenge Program is helping students develop the confidence and resilience to face difficulties, persevere and discover their own capabilities. The Year 9 camp gave students a chance to see how far they had come, both individually and as a group.
"The hike and Challenge Program taught me that I can do hard things. Even if I cry for more than 10 kilometres, I can do it, even if it's challenging or hard. My highlight of camp was definitely the teacher roleplay at comedy night and getting to know my class more." - Chloe
"The top of the Pyramid in the early morning was the highlight of my camp. The most challenging aspect was the constant rain on day two, causing all my stuff to be soaked. I learnt that movement brings me joy and new routines can form bonds with unexpected people." - Isaac
For the teachers who have walked alongside students throughout their Challenge journey, seeing that growth in action was especially rewarding.
"We are all super proud of the kids and how resilient, capable and connected they have been through supporting each other hiking and over their Challenge year." - Mrs Lindbeck
Beyond the physical challenges, the camp created opportunities for students to strengthen friendships, appreciate the natural world and experience the satisfaction of achieving something difficult together.
Chloe's advice to the next group of Year 9 students captures what makes the experience so worthwhile.
"Hiking isn't for everyone, but even though you might think it's hard or challenging, it's worth it. Getting to the campsite after hiking all day, it's a different feeling that I can only describe as wonderful. Year 9 Challenge is hard, it will test you, but by the end it's crazy to see how far you've come. So go into Year 9 Challenge knowing you're going to surprise yourself. Stay gold and keep going." - Chloe
The Year 7-9 Challenge Program is an important part of how we help our students grow through their Secondary years. By providing experiences that stretch them physically, emotionally and socially, we want students to develop a stronger understanding of themselves, deepen their connections with others and gain confidence in their ability to navigate life's challenges.
Congratulations to our 2026 Year 9 cohort on completing this significant milestone, and thank you to the dedicated staff who have guided, encouraged and supported them throughout their Challenge journey.