Broome Senior High School SEN students take up opportunity to go on adventure

The Goanna Park National Adventure Camp hosted by Variety is held in the Northern Territory each year over one week in the July school holidays. The camp caters for up to 24 children, plus carers and volunteers and this year four Broome Senior High School students, along with 2 of their teachers, were lucky enough to attend thanks to generous sponsorship received from Airnorth.

Goanna Park Adventure Camp, which is located 90kms east of Darwin on the Arnhem highway at Annaburroo Station, is aimed at providing disadvantaged children and those with a mild to moderate disability a unique experience away from their day to day routines in a safe and secure environment.

Broome Senior High School students Elijah Forrest, Kaleb Quintrell, Brooklyn Dolby and Catherine Kibily travelled to Darwin with Miss Sandi in the role of Camp Coordinator and Miss Caitlin at the start of the school holidays spending a week exploring the museums and sights of the NT capital, including a trip to Crocodylus Park and the Darwin Military Museum, before heading to the camp.

Miss Caitlin said of the camp;
“The students learned self-reliance, independence and gained confidence during the camp enjoying a fully integrated experience with their peers and carers. They made new friends and challenged themselves. Elijah even entered the camp talent quest and won with his rendition of ‘Old Man’. The student’s favourite activities were the flying fox, rock climbing and abseiling at Adventure Bound where they really went out of their comfort zones. All in all it was an amazing experience!”

The documented positive outcomes for the teenage campers attending Goanna Park Camp are increased development of independence, confidence, social communication and peer interactions whilst on camp which then extends when returning home to family and school environments. The camp allows children to experience challenging activities and situations with support and encouragement from experienced Senior Carers and we think our Broome Senior High School student campers for 2018 have brought home all of those skills and more!