Sagana Trip

Studies have shown that students who learn outdoors develop: a sense of self, independence, confidence, creativity, decision-making and problem-solving skills, empathy towards others, motor skills, self-discipline, and initiative. Check out our report from our Year 13s as they show all of these skills and more:

"The Year 13 Sagana trip was quite an experience. We did all sorts of adventurous activities daily that kept the adrenaline surging through our veins.

Rock climbing had the most impact on me; I started off on the hardest course.“This will be easy…this will be a breeze”, I thought to myself but, boy, was I wrong! The rocks were as smooth as a baby’s behind; my grip kept failing me. However, despite repeatedly climbing and swinging back down without finishing, I was determined to continue. Every time I was up there, so close to the end and yet so far away, my body gave up on me and let go; I started getting frustrated. I could not feel my hands and yet I couldn't let myself leave without getting to the top. I tried the advanced course once more before I switched to intermediate, which was still very hard, especially with all the energy I had used. The same story! I climbed, got so close and swung back down! I wasn't going to give up, I went at it again and again until I finally reached the top. I hit the checkpoint with my exhausted hand continuously like a lunatic. The satisfaction and pride I felt at that moment was overwhelming. I felt invincible! Times like these remind me that I can do whatever I put my mind to no matter what the challenge, and I'm glad that I went on this journey and experienced this lesson once more. I will definitely keep trying to get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself." - Victoria Letaru.

"Isn't it odd how you feel the most alive when your breath is hard to come by and your heart is pounding against your chest? Most people would describe this event as an adrenaline rush. Although I wouldn't call myself an "adrenaline junkie," I don't mind getting them occasionally. Driving race cars or doing bungee leaps are just a few ways people can make their hearts race. For me, all the crazy activities I took part in on the Sagana trip, like ziplining, rock climbing, and white water rafting triggered my adrenaline rush to its peak.

I started out nervous, telling myself that I'd be the one in twenty of us who falls off the raft and gets a few bruises here and there, or the one who has a snake on their side of the raft, panics, and falls into the water with more snakes. All these thoughts were going through my head, but despite all that, I still had hope: hope that I would conquer what I thought to be a ''deadly river'' and make it out alive to tell my story.

Suddenly, with the little piece of hope that I had, I was not scared of the snakes and lizards in the water. All I wanted to feel was the water in my ears after convincing myself that I could handle the pressure from the ever-flowing waterfall. The satisfaction from holding on to the raft and being pushed out by the water and laughing at myself afterward was all I could think about. I let go of the fear that was holding me back from living in the moment and enjoying the venture, suggesting to the guide that we get closer to the waterfall and get the opportunity to get underneath it with the water drowning us in the raft. I kept asking my friends ‘’Is this... a dream?". It was an out-of-this-world experience, which I would have never gotten to experience if I kept letting my fear get the best of me, constantly holding me captive in my world. "Everything is a risk. Not doing anything is a risk. It's up to you." (Nicola Yoon) - Karen Mbadinga.