Year 9 Urban Challenge - Student Reflection

The Urban Challenge gave us the opportunity to learn the importance of teamwork and co-operation.

The Urban Challenge was a once in a lifetime experience. Amidst selfies with dogs and never-ending barbeque line-ups Year 9 had heaps of fun but also learnt about the importance of teamwork and co-operation. Each team role was challenging in its own way and everyone had to work together to reach each day’s goals. It also taught us how to work in a group with people that we did not necessarily know.

The first day was really exciting, arriving at school early in the morning and seeing everyone’s fantastic costumes was very entertaining. Once we arrived in Sydney the challenge started immediately with instructions from the Games Master to go to Bondi. The rest of the day involved synchronized swimming routines, letter writing, accessory buying, scavenger hunts, and photos with lifeguards from Bondi Rescue! After a pizza dinner, the whole year group then stormed the Harbour Side Plaza bowling alley for a massive bowling tournament where all points scored went towards our team’s overall points. The ferry ride to our hostel was particularly beautiful and we all got amazing views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Lunar Park, lit up over the water.

At the beginning of day two, the Games Master sent us to Manly for a clue hunt. The day started off with a quick shopping spree before setting off for the only west facing beach on Australia’s east coast. Whilst waiting to cook on the barbeques, we entertained ourselves with bushwalks, Ultimate Frisbee games, tight-rope walking and writing raps, all whilst looking for the precious clues that, once solved, would give us our final instructions for the day. A highlight for all on day two was surfing down at Manly Beach. It was really challenging to start with but in between some spectacular wipe-outs most of us managed to get up at least once.

Finally, we got our last clue and after sprinting back and forth to Manly Library before the ferry left we solved the mystery, which was to go to Chinatown for dinner. Our challenge in Chinatown was to barter a price for our meals that we could afford. One of the most challenging parts of the week was staying to budget, especially when catering for the team. Despite this, the meals were a big highlight for all particularly at Chinatown and most groups managed to afford at least one McDonalds Frappe each at the end.

After an amazing meal at Chinatown some groups headed off to Darling Quarter to see the beautiful light and water park.

Possibly one of the biggest challenges of the week was navigating our way around Sydney. The navigators all did an amazing job and no-one ended up on a train to Newcastle. The day that navigation was the most important was definitely day three, a clue chase that took us all around the City, from the Maritime museum to back to Darling Quarter. On the first two days, we were lucky enough to have perfect weather but on the third day Sydney poured with rain. Luckily, we had a fantastic dance session planned at Dance Central. There, each team had to choreograph their own dance with the help of a professional dancer and compete against another team for extra points.

After a thoroughly exhausting but very fun three days, we all returned home in one piece.

Imogene Blake, Year 9 Student

 

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