Activities
Our Camp Activities rely on group cooperation while fostering a sense of independence as participants explore their attitude towards themselves and their peers.
The activities provide students with the opportunity to develop teamwork, leadership and communication skills while exploring their own potential.
Students become proactive in a number of different situations that involve trust, decision making and recognising the individual differences that make each of us unique.
Select from the lists below for more information about each of the activities we have on offer at Camp Paterson.
Although Archery is easy to learn, it does require some skill. It is an individual challenge that can be turned into a team challenge by adding a competitive edge. With our younger participants the emphasis is on fun rather than competition.
Participants receive coaching from our qualified instructors on stance, technique and how to use the re-curve and compound bows to shoot at target boards.
Teams support and encourage each other at their varying level of skill.
With emphasis on all safety aspects and individual assistance by our highly skilled instructor.
Children will learn how to safely handle and fire this weapon on our archery range.
Groups are taught the skills to enable them to manoeuvre the canoes over the many different activities run by our highly experienced and qualified instructors.
With two people in a canoe the emphasis is on teamwork, communication and quick decision making. Our canoe activity teaches basic strokes, handling, and safety, and is conducted on one of the many dams onsite.
Floatation devices (PFDs) are worn at all times.
Damper making tests the student’s culinary skills by making a team damper. It then gets judged by the leaders in a make shift MDR (My Damper Rules) scenario.
At Camp Paterson we put a different spin on our dampers where the teams get to add in extra ingredients of their choice and mould them into different shapes to impress the judges.
It’s always a lot of fun and gives everyone a few laughs.
History of Damper
Damper was developed out of necessity by the stockmen in Colonial Australia.
It was cheap, and quick and easy to make as they only had camp fires for cooking and had limited provisions.
It was usually made with flour, water and salt.
For this activity teams are required to use planning and teamwork as they attempt to lower large planks “draw bridges” over a pit to allow their entire team to walk over them safely.
There is only one correct route so they will need to plan and consider their options before they start. They will need to work together and put on their thinking caps for this one.
This activity is an exciting night game that is enjoyed by all. Sorry we can’t give the secret away
Torches are needed and safety instructions are given to keep everyone safe while trekking through the bush at night.
Our obstacle course has many challenges that include a tyre climb, wall, bear trap, under and over bars, a mud rope swing and bosons chair. The focus is on team work and communication as the students make their way around the course.
The object is to rescue Betty and carry her through each obstacle on a stretcher.
Poor Betty sometimes ends up a little worse for wear.
A fun and energetic introduction to orienteering, students will need to work together while testing their observation skills to complete this activity
Students are taught the basics of orienteering with a compass and bearings lesson before they commence. When they are confident in their ability and use of a compass, the fun starts as they navigate their way around the six challenging courses on the property.
They will record information along the way and will be competing with other teams for the fastest time.
Rogaine will introduce the Students to map reading and visual orientation.
Plugga requires serious team work. This activity is impossible to achieve if the whole team does not work together.
Students are required to float a ping pong ball to the top of a piece of pipe. The catch however is that the pipe has large holes drilled into it, so without the whole team blocking them the pipe will empty faster than it is filled.
A guaranteed muddy, wet and hilarious activity!
Raft building is a very popular activity which uses constructions skills and various rope tying and knot techniques.
Team work is needed to construct a vessel that will float with team members aboard as they deliver the very precious cargo across the water and back again.
Screams of laughter are heard from afar as rafts disintegrate in the water with everyone scrambling to pick up the pieces and swim back to shore.
Prepare to get wet in this one.
In this scenario the team is stranded on an Island, they will have to work together to build a suitable shelter that will house all team members during the impending tropical storm.
Teams need to rise to the challenge and work together to come up with a design for a shelter that will keep them safe and dry.
Different materials are provided and scattered throughout the area to be used for the shelter.
This is a fun and adventurous activity that is enjoyed by all.
This is done in two stages, first the group starts by walking the planks hanging onto the ropes to a set destination, it sounds easy but requires communication skills and lots of co-ordination to get moving.
The second stage is continued by manoeuvring each team member through a giant spider web. This must be done without touching the web itself; otherwise it’s back to the beginning to try again. Both activities involve a high level of coordination and teamwork.
Swimming is provided in a safe location, where teachers can supervise closely from the floating pontoon.
Combined with the Water Wipe Out obstacles, Rafting and other swimming activities, the children and teachers are sure to enjoy themselves and cool off after a days activities.
This is our newest activity and has been a big hit with Students and Teachers this year.
It is done on one of the many dams on the property and involves climbing through a water wheel, jumping on the trampoline, walking around Saturn, climbing onto the iceberg and sliding down the other side where a team member is waiting to pull you into shore on the big banana.
Teams are being timed as they complete the course.
Floatation devices (PFD’S) are worn at all times.
Putt Putt at it’s best– our Mini Golf Course is the trendy new addition to the Camp Paterson Activities.
It is situated in a beautiful outdoor setting zig-zagging through the trees. Each hole has it’s own little obstacle or challenge to concur but with loads of fun.
The course needs just as much luck as it does skill to get through it.
Unless no one is watching