Rinya's Blog

Camp Nelu

2012-01-15T14:50:00.004+02:00

Camp Nelu has all that the new Grade 5’s in my class and the other classes could EVER want in a camp!

When we got to camp, we got out of the buses, took our bags and rushed to the lapa to meet our counsellors and find out which cabin we were in. I had diverse feelings about this camp. On one hand, I was happy to be away from school for three days at least, if not a week, while on the other hand, last year’s camp not being too good, I was a bit hesitant of this camp.....

But when we saw the cabins, the pool and the counsellors all my fears and suspicions were washed away with the fresh, crispy wind blowing gently in our direction.

Straight after that the counsellors introduced themselves to us as ‘Cupcake’ ‘Biscuit’, ‘Chomp’, ‘Mama Gigi’, ‘Peanut Butter’, ‘Nick Knack’ and ‘Dukes’. All of us knew that those weren’t their real names but we went along with it anyway. After the introductions, we divided into groups of 16 for our cabins. In our group there was Kiasha, Kika, Caitlyn, Gabriella, Tashmika, Eva, Alex, Taryn, Zindzi, Reuben, Masego, Mimi, Ashwarya, Neha, Priya, and..... ME, of course!! We were in the ‘rhino cabin’. We explored the cabins, claimed bunk beds, unpacked our sleeping bags and pillows and generally settled into the cabin which was our home for the next three days.

A bit later, a bell sounded and we ran to the lapa, hoping we were going to eat, but noooo we were getting divided into groups and then doing the activities that we did in our groups. I was in group 1 with Talya, Dylan, Babtiste, Gabriella, two Naledi’s, Misty, Fabian, Kate, Jabu, Moi and a few others. Mama Gigi was our group leader (yay cause she’s really nice). After meeting our group leaders and staying with our group for a while, we finally got to eat and fill our hungry stomachs with hot dogs and juice. Oh boy! the food at Camp Nelu is scrumptious! Mama Gigi told us we could have seconds.

Later, we went to our cabins and put on sunscreen and our caps because it was time for our activities as a group. Our group went straight for the Discovery Hike in which we literally were BOILED, ROASTED and FRIED on the hot summer sun! Anyway, we got to scratch our names in rocks on the hike. It was kind of fun, I guess.... After the hike we went to do this seriously hard obstacle course called ‘Mission Impossible’ ,named after the new movie. The course’s name sums it up- ‘Mission Impossible’ it is..... I think it took us nearly an hour to finish it, THAT’S how hard it is. Another few minutes later, we ZIPLINED over the dam which is strapping ourselves into a harness with a hook attached to it and then attaching the hook to a strong cord that is stretched between a tree and a platform in a tree we then jump across the line. IT IS SO FUN!!! You get this adrenaline rush when you jump off and open your eyes and see the water rushing up to meet you.....

At night, we were learnt some songs. Here are two-

‘Baaaaby Shark, doododdodddododdo

Baby shark dododddddodododoo

Baby shark ddododododo

Baby shark.

Daaaaaddy shark dododddddodododoo

Daddy shark dododododododododo

Daddy shark dododddddodododoo

Daddy shark

Graaaaandma shark dododddddodododoo

Grandma shark dododododooodoooooddodoodod

Grandma shark dodododdooododoo

Grandma shark

(the song goes on for giant shark, whale shark, psycho shark, swimming, shark attack, where’s my arm, where’s my leg, found my leg and found my arm)’

The other one:

‘Peeeeaaaaanuuut peanut butter and jam