School News

Senior Class Camp 2011 -  Rotorua

Every parent I spoke to, told me I would need my earplugs for the Montessori senior class bus trip to Rotorua.  They weren’t on the list of required items supplied by Tez and Katy so I left them at home.  Teachers know best and I was pleasantly surprised to find I didn’t need them. 

My first instinct was to head down the back of the bus to be with the “cool kids”.  I would soon find that the bus was full of very cool Montessori kids, all very excited to be away from school for a few days, but certainly not out of control.

Our first stop was Matamata for morning tea, where I volunteered to find the closest coffee shop…an ongoing trend throughout the trip.  Back onto the bus and our driver Keith took us on to Rotorua for lunch at one of the many thermal parks.

Our first tourist attraction was the Agrodome.  I hadn’t been there since I was Alasdair’s age (on a school trip).  I don’t think it had changed much since then, but then neither have sheep, sheep dogs, cows or sheep shearers.  Some of our guys got to feed a lamb and milk a cow – the old fashioned way.  Those of us in the front row should have known we would get “milk squirted”.  There were stains on the seats from previous performances.  I think the most excited by this attraction was Tez…in the wool shop…checking out the range of wool colours.  She sounded like my wife telling us she had “saved money” by purchasing wool at a great price.

Not meaning to take the gloss off the Agrodome performance, but those hand driers in the toilets were awesome.  They blew air onto both sides of your hands at the same time and they were dry in ten seconds.  I’ve never seen so many boys keen to wash their hands after going to the toilet!!

Back onto the bus and off to the Keswick Camp, over by the airport.  We all settled into our allocated rooms and the sports equipment was located.  The camp facilities were clean and tidy and I was pleasantly surprised to see my name wasn’t on any of the duty rosters keeping it that way.  Nobody seemed to complain about what they were required to do – I guess that is down to the Montessori philosophy of helping out and working as a team.  Most of the guys on kitchen duty enjoyed using the hose to rinse the dishes.

We had a “group” meeting in the hall and all shared what were excited about.  I told everyone it was the hand driers but deep down it was the opportunity to see first-hand how my children learn.  I couldn’t believe how well Tez and Katy listen to the students and handle the endless questions – however long it might take…a skill I need to work on.

A quick game of “two truths and one lie” and we all got to know each other a little better before bed.

Breakfast was at 7:30am and consisted of porridge (never very appetising when cooked en mass), cereal, toast and Milo.  Once we had finished breakfast we all lined up and made filled rolls for lunch – a great idea as I’m sure if someone else had made them they would not have been eaten so eagerly.

First stop - the biggest bubbling mudpools in Rotorua followed by the Lady Knox Geyser.  We were all sitting in an outdoor amphitheatre seemingly very close to a small cone which was gently steaming.  I have always wondered how they get geysers to blow at just the right time when all the tourists are gathered around.  I has sure there was a big tap that needs to be turned somewhere to get the water flowing.  A guide arrived with what appeared to be a cake of soap.  Apparently it’s all to do with surface tension between a layer of hot water and one of cold water.  The soap breaks this down causing the geyser to blow.  Sure enough, a couple of minutes later there is water gushing 10 metres into the air right in front of us.  A light spray of water damped the front rows.  Seems like you are going to get wet in the front row of every tourist attraction.

Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland has an amazing collection of geothermal formations.  From big steaming holes, boiling hot ponds with orange algae living around the edge and my favourite – a bright green pond – like a big bowl of pea soup.

Off to the lake front for lunch.  The playground radar seems to work really well for our children.  I am yet to see them sit still and “chill out”….must be something old people do!!  Soon we are herding them back to the bus and over to Rotorua Museum.  A great presentation on Maori art from George had the kids listening intently.  He was one of those people who spoke quite softly, but seemed to command great respect from the class.  Perhaps he was a Montessori teacher in a different life.

We are all lead into an auditorium with rather old bench seats to watch a movie about the geothermal history of Rotorua.  Halfway through the show when Mt Tarawera erupts, all the seats start to shake – a huge shock when you aren’t ready for it.  Tez is sitting there with a huge smile on her face.  Was I the only one who didn’t know that was going to happen?

The Rotorua Aquatic Centre is next and once again we got wet, but this time it was kind of expected. 

A quick trip back to the camp to get ready for the nights activities.  A visit to the Mitai Maori Concert and Hangi Dinner.  We are all seated in a large marquee, 3 of the 20 odd tables taken up by Glendowie Montessori.  It is times like this that we see how important is was to have a smart uniform for the school.  I’m sure all the gathered tourists would have been impressed by the behavior and appearance of our class.  The presenter was impressively able to greet all 20 different gathered “tribes” in their native tongue.

We all marched off to see how dinner was going as the hangi was opened up.  I was expecting to see a little more flax wrapping but modern food hygiene must require that to be replaced by tinfoil – such a shame.

Next a short walk down through the bush where if you looked carefully you would realize we were being watched by several Maori warriors, standing quietly in the bush above us.  Quite an eerie feeling.  At the bottom of the valley there is a stream about two metres wide.  The water is completely clear – emerging from underground a few metres further upstream.  As we are all lined up both sides of the stream a small waka carrying ten warriors paddles down right in front of us.  The combination of paddling, beating the waka with paddles and “chanting” (for want of a better word) was quite impressive.

Further back up the hill the main concert program begins in front of a recreated Maori village.  An amazing combination of singing, kapa haka, poi performances and weapon demonstrations.  The final haka – not the All Black one – “that belongs to a different tribe” – is very stirring.

This was the highlight of the trip for me – a fantastic showcase of Maori culture.  It made me proud to be a kiwi.

The hangi dinner was great.  That slightly smoky flavour you only get from food that’s been underground for a few hours.  There was even stuffing for the Poms in the crowd.  I think that style of “all you can eat” food was seen as a challenge for some of the boys.

A quick walk back down into the bush to check out the glow worms and then back onto the bus.  I think most of us fell asleep before our heads hit the pillow that night.

Another early start the next morning and we are delivered to the “Ducks” – two world war II amphibious vehicles.  We are all given duck beak shaped duck callers and have lots of fun all “quacking” at passing pedestrians.  It’s a fairly slow trip up and over the hill to the two lakes we get to drive onto – Lake Okareka and Lake Tarawera.  The two drivers are both very funny yet knowledgeable - great ambassadors for New Zealand.

Finally we are on the road heading back to Auckland and the three days seems to have gone so very quickly.  It was great to have spent some time with the whole class, without having to plan anything or even worry about where the next meal is coming from.  Perhaps that is what it’s like to be one of the children.

The only sad part to the trip was when Katy read a letter she had written to the class explaining that she would be leaving us at the end of term to travel to Italy, the home of Montessori, to study Montessori teaching.  She has been a great asset to the unit and will be missed by all of us.

Thanks to the mums Catherine, Suzanne, Kim, Karen and teachers Tez and Katy – I hope my snoring didn’t keep you awake.

If you ever have the opportunity to go on one of these school trips – go for it – it’s a great experience.

Camp Dad – David Lowe