There we were, happily chatting to a couple of other travellers in the Caravan Park at Marla North of Coober Pedy, when at about 5pm in rolled 2 huge buses and seemingly hundreds of excited teenagers spilled out. "Oh No" we said, "There goes our quiet night!"
We couldnt have been more wrong. They were 90 kids from aTamworth high school, on a 14 day trip which had already covered parts of Queensland, and Uluru. They put up their tents with almost military precision, remained in their allotted area, cooked, ate, cleaned up, chatted and giggled a bit (no swearing) and were absolutely silent by 9 pm. They were all up again before daylight and had packed up before we heard them... actually it was the flock of correllas that woke us!!! What fantastic organisation and discipline! They were on their way to see Lake Eyre, hope they made it OK as there was rain down that way today.
Those kids changed my attitude to the younger generation, and they did Tamworth proud.
Helena said
08:34 PM May 9, 2011
We experienced the same sort of thing in Innes National Park in this camp the older group of students brought in the younger ones showed them how to pitch the tents then left them to it came back the next morning and supervised the packing up was really amazing to watch we went over and complimented them on the way that they had behaved and they were so proud of themselves. Helena.
Di-n-Gary said
09:30 PM May 9, 2011
I've had a similar experience, went camping with about 40 kids 15-16 yr. olds as an adult mentor thing and of those I thought some to be possible smartie types, couldn't be more wrong, away from phones, TV and other mod cons, no power, just the bush,they proved to be a fantastic bunch and real good fun. I still think it's the environment they're in and the rubbish that their minds are fed that's the problem
Sandra K said
10:06 PM May 9, 2011
Our daughter is a PE, Outdoor Ed and Health teacher, often camps with groups of young people. She plans these camps with precision, lots of outdoor activities and a huge emphasis on respect - for the environment, each other and those around them. She works with troubled youth and is constantly amazed and inspired by them, often these young people have never had the opportunity to do these types of trips and activities with their own families. I would strongly suggest that, if you know the school these students came from, drop them a line on their website, students and teacher/mentors alike need this positive acknowledgement and feedback.
Ron and Shirley said
10:31 PM May 9, 2011
We have had similar experiences with a number of teenage school groups. Been quite surprised at their behaviour and how thoughtful and well mannered they were.
However, totally different story with groups of senior citizens on bus camping tours. Absolute opposite, stuff everybody else seems to be there attitude, somewhat fostered by their tour guides.
jimricho said
06:42 AM May 10, 2011
Ron and Shirley wrote:
We have had similar experiences with a number of teenage school groups. Been quite surprised at their behaviour and how thoughtful and well mannered they were.
However, totally different story with groups of senior citizens on bus camping tours. Absolute opposite, stuff everybody else seems to be there attitude, somewhat fostered by their tour guides.
Hear Hear
petengail said
04:19 PM May 10, 2011
You gotta love it - the Grey Nomads of tommorrow
Gerty Dancer said
08:19 PM May 10, 2011
Ron and Shirley wrote:
However, totally different story with groups of senior citizens on bus camping tours. Absolute opposite, stuff everybody else seems to be there attitude, somewhat fostered by their tour guides.
The same can be said for a lot of back-packer groups.
wendyv said
11:14 PM May 10, 2011
Gerty, if you know what school it was in Tamworth, please, please, write a brief letter to the Principal with this praise. Having worked in schools, this type of feedback is of huge value. The teachers travelling with this group will have put so much of their out of hours time into organizing this trip, and going with it - they deserve positive feedback if they have their group doing so well. You may think that the kids know they are making a great impression, but to hear it from people like you they encountered along the way is really affirming for them.
Esmeralda said
05:39 PM May 11, 2011
Guys, I have just got back from the National Museum - late primary school age children everywhere and in one group the teachers were louder than the students - some teachers were standing around talking amongst themselves and ignoring the children and others were yelling out to the students. Another group were just so loud and the sound reverberated and reverberated, with a couple of ineffectual teachers going "shhh". The only quiet place was outside in the cold. Maybe I am just getting old.......
-- Edited by Esmeralda on Wednesday 11th of May 2011 05:40:44 PM
There we were, happily chatting to a couple of other travellers in the Caravan Park at Marla North of Coober Pedy, when at about 5pm in rolled 2 huge buses and seemingly hundreds of excited teenagers spilled out. "Oh No" we said, "There goes our quiet night!"
We couldnt have been more wrong. They were 90 kids from aTamworth high school, on a 14 day trip which had already covered parts of Queensland, and Uluru. They put up their tents with almost military precision, remained in their allotted area, cooked, ate, cleaned up, chatted and giggled a bit (no swearing) and were absolutely silent by 9 pm. They were all up again before daylight and had packed up before we heard them... actually it was the flock of correllas that woke us!!! What fantastic organisation and discipline! They were on their way to see Lake Eyre, hope they made it OK as there was rain down that way today.
Those kids changed my attitude to the younger generation, and they did Tamworth proud.
I've had a similar experience, went camping with about 40 kids 15-16 yr. olds as an adult mentor thing and of those I thought some to be possible smartie types, couldn't be more wrong, away from phones, TV and other mod cons, no power, just the bush,they proved to be a fantastic bunch and real good fun. I still think it's the environment they're in and the rubbish that their minds are fed that's the problem
We have had similar experiences with a number of teenage school groups. Been quite surprised at their behaviour and how thoughtful and well mannered they were.
However, totally different story with groups of senior citizens on bus camping tours. Absolute opposite, stuff everybody else seems to be there attitude, somewhat fostered by their tour guides.
Hear Hear
The same can be said for a lot of back-packer groups.
Guys, I have just got back from the National Museum - late primary school age children everywhere and in one group the teachers were louder than the students - some teachers were standing around talking amongst themselves and ignoring the children and others were yelling out to the students. Another group were just so loud and the sound reverberated and reverberated, with a couple of ineffectual teachers going "shhh". The only quiet place was outside in the cold. Maybe I am just getting old.......
-- Edited by Esmeralda on Wednesday 11th of May 2011 05:40:44 PM