School camp might be over, but how can you continue the momentum and provide meaningful learning opportunities that enhance your curriculum? Following on from our blog on how to enhance your curriculum at school camp, we explore ways to use camp energy in the classroom.

English: The art of communication

Keep the post camp buzz alive with a range of stimulating activities such as:

• Create a picture story book inspired by camp and share it with younger students.
• Use journals from school camp as a basis to make a movie or a play.
• Write thank you letters to people who helped on camp.
• Build a website based on all the activities.
• Create a class A to Z of camp.
• Play charades acting out specific activities on camp.
• Host a post camp party for families where each student presents a camp highlight.
• Write a letter to a future son or daughter explaining how it feels to go on school camp.

Math & Science: A journey of discovery

Crack the door to the world open a little more. Continue camp conversations and go beyond by planning activities like:

• Create a PowerPoint presentation on an Australian ecosystem at risk.
• Research the different types of ecosystems within the world.
• Brainstorm what the school camp environment would have looked like 100, 1,000, 10,000 years ago.
• Compile a food chain relating to the camp environment.
• Discuss the various ways to present data collected at camp, such as animals spotted, activities completed etc
• Tap into citizen science projects such as Questagame to continue the exploration of nature.

Health: Make it a habit

Camp is a place for students to learn new things and step out of their comfort zone. Encourage the journey to continue with these activities:

• Personal reflections on camp – hardest, easiest, what I learnt about myself, how can I continue to build my new skills, how I overcame…. etc.
• Run meditation / mindfulness sessions based on the scenery at camp.
• Challenge students to set a daily target of physical activity.
• Create a survival kit suitable for extreme conditions and present it to the class.

Making Connections: Sharing is caring

Connectivity is what makes the world go around – to self, to others and to the bigger picture. Consider:

• Work in small groups to present ‘tips for camp’ for younger students.
• Further investigate Gumbaynggir culture and make connections with local Aboriginal groups.
• Discuss the meaning of “connecting to country”.
• Draw or use photos to sum up camp in six pictures.
• Create a soundscape of camp as an audio presentation.
• Compile a class photo wall and encourage students to add positive comments.
• Make a chart of environmental issues affecting the local area, state, Australia and the world.

We’d love to help you design a camp itinerary that fits seamlessly with your curriculum, and can also work with you to come up with ways to extend the wonder and enthusiasm of school camp once you return to the classroom.

Contact Molly, our Camp Concierge, for guidance and inspiration.