More than 80 students and staff from Kelmscott Senior High School’s Gifted and Talented (GAT) and Kelmscott Academic Academy (KAA) programs recently returned from a memorable three-day camp at the historic Woodman Point Recreation Centre, where students were challenged to develop resilience, teamwork and leadership skills beyond the classroom.
Held from 10 to 12 August, the camp brought together Year 7 and 8 students from the Gifted and Talented & Academic Academy Program in an immersive learning experience designed to strengthen the school’s core values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience, while also promoting the importance of teamwork, collaboration and personal growth.
Throughout the camp, students participated in a diverse range of activities, including ice-breakers, team-building challenges, archery, search and rescue exercises, catapult construction and launching, and the highly anticipated evening activity, Escape from Quarantine. The activities encouraged students to communicate effectively, solve problems creatively and work together to overcome challenges.
The unique location also provided students with an opportunity to learn about the rich history of Woodman Point, which was originally established as a quarantine station in 1886 and played a vital role in protecting Western Australia from infectious diseases for almost a century. The site remained operational until its closure in 1979.
Despite facing some of Perth’s coldest August conditions in almost a decade, students demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the camp. Wet and windy conditions greeted students on arrival, with a strong cold front sweeping across the metropolitan area. Rather than dampening spirits, the challenging weather became another opportunity for students to persevere, support one another and embrace new experiences.
Beyond the organised activities, students also gained valuable life skills by taking responsibility for their accommodation, setting up dining areas, cleaning after meals and contributing positively to the camp environment. For many students, it was their first time being away from home for an extended period, making the experience particularly rewarding.
One of the camp’s highlights was a Beach Clean Up conducted in partnership with Keep Australia Beautiful at Bathers Beach.
Students collected more than 12 kilograms of litter and removed an impressive 1,317 pieces of rubbish from the coastline.
The students even ran a tally – among the items collected were 386 cigarette butts, 116 pieces of broken glass and ceramic fragments, 113 soft plastic remnants, 103 food wrappers and packaging items, and 96 hard plastic fragments.
The activity provided students with a practical lesson in environmental stewardship and community responsibility while helping preserve one of Perth’s most iconic coastal destinations.
Four student birthdays were celebrated during the camp, with a surprise birthday cake helping ensure the occasion remained special despite being away from home.
The experience concluded with a celebratory lunch at Kailis Fish Market in Fremantle, where students enjoyed fish and chips followed by gelato before returning to school.
Camp Lead Coordinator and Program Coordinator for the Gifted and Talented and Kelmscott Academic Academy programs, Mr Idroz Shah, said the camp had been one of the most rewarding experiences of his career.
“Our goal was to provide students with opportunities to challenge themselves, develop meaningful relationships and build the resilience needed to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. What impressed me most was the way our students embraced every challenge with enthusiasm, positivity and determination.”
Mr Shah said many students surprised themselves with what they were capable of achieving.
“Whether it was stepping up as a leader, trying something completely new, or simply spending their first few nights away from home, our students demonstrated exceptional growth. Seeing their confidence develop over the three days and the smiles on their faces at the end of the camp was incredibly rewarding.”
He also acknowledged the commitment of the staff and parent volunteers who helped make the camp a success.
“This was a genuine team effort. The dedication shown by our staff and parent volunteers ensured every student felt safe, supported and encouraged to make the most of the experience. It was a wonderful example of our school community working together to create meaningful learning opportunities for our students.”
