What a stirring Term 1 the Grade 2’s and 3’s had as they experienced their class camp in the playground at school. The excitement that the children expressed at the opportunity to sleep at school without their parents was wonderful to see. While we pitched the tents on the grass, it was delightful observing the children full of laughter and joy. They all made their beds and then spent a lot of time running from tent to tent seeing how everyone had set up their spaces and rearranging their own. As the sun began to set, yummy sweets and snacks were shared and exchanged. Once our campsite was set up the most important part of any camp had to be attended to: the fire. While some children collected whatever wood and sticks could be found, others diligently prepared the dough for stick bread, while others collected bamboo sticks to cook the bread. Once the fire was
going and dough was resting and the lamps were lit, the children had a chance to settle down into the exciting reality that they were at school, at night, with all their friends and without their parents. Laughter and shouting filled the air as the smoke
rose into the trees.

Then all too soon it was time to cook, children huddled together around the fire roasting their stick bread, some more successfully than others. We then had hotdogs and hot chocolate before hearing a story and getting ready for bed. Giggling and whispers came from the tents for a while before all was still. But not for long —because bright and early we were all back around the fire enjoying breakfast and
sharing stories from the night.

It was wonderful to experience again the joy and delight that can come from such simple experiences and we all look forward to the next time we can camp together.