The JCP Youth Development Camp Level 1 was awesome. We had four days of amazing activities that challenged us and pushed us to do incredible things.

On Day 1, we started at MFX strength and conditioning in Deloraine and then did two runs up Snob Hill. Our first night’s accommodation was sleeping on stretchers in the Meander Valley Hall.

On Day 2, we started our day at 4:30am and did a 3.5hr mountain climb at Quamby Bluff.  The entire climb was done by torch light and multiple people lost their headtorches and fell over and hurt themselves making the climb challenging in the wet and dark conditions.

When we got to the top of our climb the view was lost in the clouds due to the weather.

After this we drove to the Hobart Aquatic Centre and challenged ourselves to jump off the 10m diving platform.  This was extremely difficult to overcome the nerves for.  After I went off the 7.5m platform I realised that maybe the 10m wouldn’t be as bad as I thought. Once you do one hard thing, it makes the next hard thing easier.

A lot of fun for the last couple of days was had at Redbanks the Ultimate Experience where we were challenged with a lot of activities including a massive waterslide that ended in a mud pond, and we played a 3-team game called Daytime Commander on the paintball field which is a combination of staying hidden while getting through the paintball course and capturing  flags along the way.  To avoid being spotted I jumped into a pond but unfortunately my splash was too loud, and I was caught out in that round.

I really appreciate the JCP team and volunteers for giving me the opportunity to participate in this camp and I am hoping to get the opportunity to go to the Level 2 camp in the future.  JCP Youth camps helps you build resilience and confidence.

Otis Hansen

Year 9