This year the Al-Taqwa College Grade 6 students ventured out on a different kind of camp; one that gave them are real taste of the outback and allowed them to stand in awe in front of the natural wonders of our country’s outback. Northern Territory is not a camp for the faint hearted, however it was a camp that our Grade 6 students delved into whole heartedly.
On May 11, a group of Grade 6 students set out on a nine day trip to the red centre. The journey included stopovers in Coober Pedy and an underground stay at the opal mines. Accommodation in central Australia included camping at Uluru, Alice Springs and Kings Canyon.
The educational tour was designed by ATC to allow students to gain more knowledge of Australia’s unique environment through experiencing some of our geographic wonders. Students also had loads of fun exploring the stunning natural landscapes and learning about Indigenous culture by examining stunning artwork created by the elders. They also experienced many proud moments including their outback achievement of setting up their own tents many times.
Over the days spent in NT, students visited many historical and iconic sites, one of which was Uluru, meaning the “Red Centre”. They watched the sun rise from behind Ayers Rock and were awed by its serenity. In the evenings students were able to enjoy roasting marshmallows over a campfire while sharing the highlights of their day and listening to engaging Islamic stories.
“The highlight of the trip was seeing Uluru in the sunset and the campfires. That’s where we told riddles and jokes and shared hadeeths. My favourite experience was sleeping in the tents even though we heard the dingo’s at night and scared each other with them.”
— Hannah Abou-Zeid
Students also visited the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre and Kings Canyon which helped them build many connections and understandings, while the visit to the Lilla Community Centre opened their eyes to interesting facts about indigenous life and culture.
There is no doubt that the life skills learnt, the values discussed, the Islamic stories shared, the connections made, the team bonding and leadership skills learnt and the friendships made will all be cherished for a life time.
“This camp taught me to always be brave and to appreciate what we have in this dunia. My favourite part was when we went to Ayers Rock and slept in the tents. Another highlight was gaining knowledge about our religion as well as the indigenous community, alhamdulah I feel like my friendships are now stronger…”.
— Serene Kaddour
Al-Taqwa’s Grade 6 camp to the Northern Territory was a trip to be remembered for both teachers and students and one that we will indeed have again.
