Poppy's Horse Ride

​As I swung myself up onto my horse, Opal, I suddenly felt very high. Opal suddenly shook her head, braying softly as her elegant mane swiftly flicked away the delicate flies. With my feet trapped in their metal slips I looked up trembling. But that was not the end. Opal abruptly lifted her hoof before plodding it hard into the ground then leaping off into a really... slow trot. I was being abruptly jolted around with Opal's undulating body. *In the midst of all the excitement of my first horse ride Opal stopped and as I sat there (slightly glad I was still) wondering what was wrong. I briefly saw an uneven brown pile flop ungraciously like slinky falling down the stairs towards the impending grassy knoll. Yuck. **I had an annoying kid riding me today and we were just on our boring old ride we do everyday, so I stopped to do a poo then watched it roll down the rocky path. Opal was constantly careering towards the rocky edge of the paths towards the gnarled littering trees on the crumbling bank.I looked down and saw the face of Madame Palmer. Madame Palmer have you been flirting?

*My perspective 
**Opals perspective 

                                                              Tree Adventures



As I looked up towards the wires my head was spinning. How can I do that? It's so high. But as soon as the thought arrived in my head we were told to make our way to the instructors. We all had to put on our super heavy harnesses and walk over to the practice course, another instructor started telling us rules and that's when my head started spinning again. What if I fall?What if ? What if ? The question made circles around me,  laughing at me. So I decided that there was nothing to worry about. And guess what I didn't fall.


                 

The sunshine beach by youngmin

 

I ride a horse first time so I get quite scared,

but I just let my body go up to the horse and pull the horse's rope.

Than 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! Start!! I started to pull the rope so the horse can go!

It was a fabulous horse.

It stay nicely so I was not scared.

It was fun and exciting!!!!!  

Sonshine Ranch

I was waiting, waiting till the last possible moment. Then I was called up to the tire swing. My heart was thudding so hard I walked up to the lady who clipped me on so I wouldnt fall if I fell. I walked up to the open gate the man on the ground started counting down 5,4,3,2,1 GOOOO! I jumped, I fell, I  swung. It was an amazing feeling it felt like my tummy fell away. When I  got off I was glowing I was so happy I  did it.

Yohan's trip to Sonshine Ranch

Yohan's trip to Sonshine Ranch

Sonshine Ranch was an awesome destination for our urban camp

I enjoyed every single thing about it first it was the "HORSE RIDING"

I enjoyed the part when we got to walk our amazing horse around the place and be able to steer them well. Second was the "Water Confidence Course" it was so challenging

but I managed to finish all of them.

Last but not the least finally the "Flying Fox" and the "Rope Swing" it was the best part of "Sonshine Ranch"it was terrifying but simply the best.

"SONSHINE RANCH" was a great trip and it's for sure it is a trip we will never forget.

Alex's Tree Adventures/Sonshine Ranch Recount

TREE ADVENTURES RECOUNT
Today at Tree Adventures I had a great time especially on course 7. My favourite bit was the flying foxes and flying from platform to platform! :) At first I found the courses scary but after a few it was really fun!



SONSHINE RANCH
I found the horse riding a little bit scary at first but once we started it got easier, but my favourite thing by far was the rope swing because when you were stepping off the platform you went really fast and on the way back towards it looked like you were going to hit it. As you were on the flying fox it was beautiful looking at all the bush and trees.

Alex C
:)

SUNSHINE RANCH

Sunshine Ranch

At first the horses were scary but when

you get the hang of it and start 

steering It's really fun. My favourite 

Part was when we were going uphill

because my horse was going of the track

and it started sneezing.

Joyce's water confidence course tale.

Sonshine Ranch

 The Water Confidence Course  

We got changed into our togs in a bathroom that had a extremely disgusting stench coming from the toilet! I tried to flush the toilet but it wouldn't flush. When all of us finished changing we walked down to the water confidence course and we started. I first went on the activity where you stand on a rope and hold onto ropes
that are dangling down from the top and then you walk across. I did it a few times to boost my confidence. One time I went on with Thilini, and when she fell in she almost took me down with her!
I then tried the tire activity where you keep on climbing onto the next tire until you get to the end. I did a few but I slipped and accidentally fell in; I don't think anyone noticed me fall in. All in all, I had a lovely day. 

Sonshine ranch

I was 'a bit' sceared of the horses at first because they just told us to get on the horse and didn't tell us what we were going to do, so how was I meant to know whether they were going to be like this 

But when they explained that they were lazeyest horses in the world and had no interest in running I was a lot more confidant to get on, and when we were getting off they said that the only other career option would probably be like this

Then the flying fox was amazing even though I didn't want to get on, but with a bit of bulliing from the instructer I got off and hit my foot on the fern on the way and landed on my knees on the bark. But I just jumped off the edge on the way back and I would definetly do it again. Though on the rope swing I fell off but the harness kept me on, theres one way to trust your gear.

Simon 

Sonshine ranch:)

Omg today was the best, you could say I was a natural at everything, more the horse riding than anything(because my mum is a pro at it, just letting you know). I loved my horse that I got paired with not only because it was so calm, cool and friendly but it was lazy, just like meeee! (just kidding and his name was Joeally). But when I fell in the water at the water course the sand or moss, I don't know what I was standing on, was sooo gooey it gave me a sick feeling. When I went on the flying fox I felt like a hawk gliding through the air as the wind was pushing against my face and the rope swing was pretty much the same except for the fact that the G force was so high that I was going to puke:( but my favorite part of the day was riding and getting to meet other horse's in the paddock, man if anyone got pics of me riding PLEASE show my family and give me them :)thats not all I can tell you about, what fun and awesome things that happened today but I don't want to make you guys and girls keep on reading my stuff when you could be writing your own post about the great day.:)

tree adventures

I was getting closer. I wasn't too scared (I mean I wasn't completely terrified) but I was still a teensy bit scared. After all jumping off a high up platform with a fear of heights can't be easy! So I thought to myself might as well give it a go! I was at the platform. I looked over the edge, the ground loomed below me.

 I tried to maintain a positive attitude, not that that was easy! I hadn't been on the platform long, about 7 seconds. Decided to just jump.

The speed didn't scare me I'm a bit of a speed freak, on most things (except roller coasters.... I hate them. I don't mind flying across the choppy water of the sea at break neck speed, actually I do it a lot on sea biscuits being towed by an overpowered dinghy motor.....but I hate roller coasters. As I already know it`s all about the attitude to enjoy high speeds.... anyway back to the zip line)

But it hurt, the wedge I mean, but I didn't care, I was having so much fun. The sand came closer......

If you were wondering this is a sea biscuit

Thilini and the fiying fox

There I was on the platform nervous as I took small steps and then leaped. I WAS FLYING !!!! I looked down while screaming going faster than a cheetah. The ride was over I thought but then I saw another platform I ran to it to get back across,again screaming I went but then I ran to the platform.I got off and saw the rope swing...

Lucy's Tree Adventure recount

I carefully clipped the pulley to the lifeline, followed by the carabiners. I checked the sign to see if I was strapped on correctly. I was thinking to myself "this is what I've been looking forward to, the Tarzan swing".  I stare at the net, the swing, the ground. The ground! I realise how high I actually am, and I gasp and jump back slightly. I grabbed the swing and cautiously edged onto the seat, making sure I wouldn't fall off the platform. I kept calm and knew I would want to do it again once did it. I was finally ready to swing. I hear my friends shout 3, 2, 1, GO! And I push off and lift up my legs. The wind was blowing in my face, I was soaring through the air and my adrenalin went away. I hit the net and felt a smile wipe across my face.

Harry·s tree adventure

I finally finished the first camp and second one, I like the flying foxes. At the moment of flying through trees and winds I safely landed on sand, but I like tree adventure the most... like a maze... you do not know where the end is and if you are caught in a net in course 5, how do you get out and you do not know what is the next challenge is like.
The horses look great but they just shake too much, so I like feeding animals the most. I tried to divide the orange into 6 but Yohan just give it to the lamb (╰_╯)

Mme P's person of the day - Tuesday at Sonshine Ranch

Person of the day - Simon - for showing outstanding courage.
Simon overcame two HUGE challenges today; even though he had never done these activities before, he pushed himself to the limit and succeeded.  His smile when he landed after the second flying fox made me so proud.  Congratulations.

Fred's Tree Adventure

Today was a pretty amazing day for me. My goal for Tree Adventures was to finally get through one whole course. I have been there before but was always too scared of heights to complete anything – I had only really made it up one of the ladders and then had to get down again in the past.

This time though, I was determined to do better. I started on course 3, the one where they put that really weird bridge that has sort of zig zag blocks of wood that block your way. To get past those I was chanting “Zig!” for one side and “Zag!” for the others. There was also a section where a log was rocking backwards and forward – that was a bit hairy. But I made it through all those sections and thought everything would be OK until I came to the flying fox. It looked very long, very fast and very scary. I didn’t think I was going to do it but when other kids came past and gave me heaps of encouragement I decided to go for it.

What can I say about that first flying fox ride? When I jumped off I felt the ground disappear beneath my feet and with a loud whizzing sound I accelerated towards the finish. I couldn’t help but let out a “whoop!” because it felt so excellent… I mean the ride itself was excellent but the feeling of overcoming my fear was superb. I did four other courses after that and loved the flying fox on all of them. My favourite was course six. Mr H has put up a Poll to find out the all time favourite course – why not take part yourself.

By the way, hope you like the pic. That's me at the back right behind Yohan - those guys at Tree Adventures even managed to get me an invisible harness... how about that?

Henry's Post After Tree Adventures

I thought that Max really did well at tree adventures, because just like me, he was scared of heights BUT he and Myself concured our fears of heights and we did lots of courses at tree adventures.When I was going down the zip line ohhh man it was fast. I felt like a dog poking it's tongue out of a car window, I didn't like the ending part though  because when you got to the bottom you either got sand in your shoes or pants. I felt like a monkey on the coruses :)

 

Bexs camp recount

I was finally at the end of course 6 at Wood Hill Forest Tree Adventures, I secured my safety clips up to the wire. My hands were sweating with nerves and excitement, I gave myself a small push, and off I went. Flying through the air on a zip line, with adrenalin rushing through my body, from my head to my toes. I saw the end, a sandy uphill pit. It was rapidly coming towards me. I opened my eyes as wide as I could, taking in the last few minutes of this amazing moment. I stretched out my legs and attempted to land on my feet. This, however, didn't work and I ended up landing backwards! I released my safety clips and found myself covered in sand! I brushed off the sand quickly and rushed over to watch my friend go down.

Eugene's challenges

THis year I want to manage my time and how I use it through a diary. It's going good so far, but I think I need to actually remind myself what's going on AND STOP PROCRASTINATING!!!!

P.S Only Doctor Who fans will get this picture. Comment if funny!!! :D

Daksh's Challenge

My challenge is to be confident,committed and be progressive in all my activities.

Dudley's challenges

Dudley's challenges for 2013 are to be more aware of things around him, focus more when people are talking and concentrate on goals more.

lauren's 2013 challenge

                                    Lauren's challenge

My challenge for 2013 is to make the most of taking opportunities that come my way because if I'm to survive out in the world after high school I'll have to take job opportunities. If I don't start now I won't be used to disappointment when failing to get a job or be accepted with other stuff.

Poppy's Challenges

My challenge for this summer has been to harvest the fruit from our orchard! The plums are just finishing but now the peaches, purple pears, green pears, apples, figs, mandarins, lemons and olives are ready. The low hanging fruit is easy but the big problem is how to reach the high ones - I think I need a bigger ladder!

Callans Challenge

A challenge in camp will be overcoming my fears. I will need to have maximum courage to do all the activities I can. I don't want to miss out in any activitys and make my camp experience the best it can be.

Rupesh's Challange

My goal for 2013 is to be able to manage my time better because everyday of the week I have got something on and I have less time to finish my homework.

Urban camp challenge

I'm sort of freaked out and will be challenged by the overnight stay and Urban camp this week

I mean what if there are bears at the place where we are staying 

I am exited about

the whole of Urban camp, but that thing with the bears is what I'm only freaked out about, on the plus side Will and I

are going build a big Empire State building, Laugh Out Load 

Anyway that's my fears

and challenges about 2013 Urban camp