Mrs Kirkby, Supervising Teacher
Six Kuyper Secondary students recently enjoyed an unforgettable adventure, joining 51 students from Wycliffe, Tyndale and Nepean Christian Schools for a weekend of learning, challenge and community in the Snowy Mountains.
We met at Nepean Christian School late on Friday morning before piling onto buses for the five-and-a-half-hour drive to Jindabyne, where students were fitted with snow gear by the team from Venture Outdoor Co. After a safety briefing and settling into accommodation, we prepared for an exciting weekend on the slopes.
Saturday began with a 5:30 am wake-up call and a 6:00 am breakfast before heading off for ski and snowboard lessons. Our students took to their chosen sport like ducks to water, throwing themselves into every challenge while encouraging one another along the way. The pizza vending machine at lunch also deserves an honourable mention—it was surprisingly delicious and may have gained a few advocates for installation at school!
For several students, it was their very first experience seeing snow, yet they embraced it as though they had been waiting for this moment all their lives. After a full day on the slopes, there were certainly some weary bodies, but not a single complaint, argument or eye roll. Instead, our students consistently displayed smiles, gratitude and a willingness to have a go. It was a genuine pleasure to witness.
Sunday brought another 5:30 am start. By then, everyone had a much better appreciation for why teachers insist on a curfew! After another morning lesson to refine their skills, students spent the afternoon putting everything they had learned into practice on the lifts and runs before beginning the long journey home. We arrived back at Nepean Christian School at 10:45 pm, tired but very grateful for the weekend we had shared.
One of the highlights of the trip was simply taking in the beauty all around us. Snow-covered mountains, frozen dams, winding rivers and creeks, wombats and kangaroos wandering through the campsite, and indescribable sunrises and sunsets. God’s creation is absolutely stunning!
A sincere thank you to Mr Dunbier from Nepean Christian School for doing such an outstanding job coordinating the trip. Kuyper is grateful to have been invited to participate in what is hoped to become an annual inter-school tradition, providing students with many more opportunities for fellowship, challenge and shared adventure in the years ahead.