Friday 8 March - Day 1:
On a warm and pleasant Friday morning, camp leaders and eager campers gathered at Lincoln Square, ready for a jam-packed weekend of team competition, outdoor games, and the chance to forge new friendships and build on existing ones from O-Week (see review here). As each Jaffy (UniMelb slang for first year) checked in, they received a camp T-shirt with a bingo card design on the back and the ultimate goal of ticking each item off, in addition to a coloured bandana which symbolised their team for the weekend.
The Jaffies participated in some fun bonding games before heading onto the buses just after 1 pm. Together, we embarked on a two-and-a-half-hour commute to Waratah Beach Camp, located southeast of Melbourne. En route, camp leaders on each bus ran various bonding activities, including speed dating, where fellow Biomed peers get to know each other a little more by conversing on pre-set topics such as icks and university experience, switching seats regularly. Arriving at the campsite, an infectious wave of enthusiasm swept through the group. Initially in the main hall, Events Officer Kyle gave a welcome speech followed by Welfare Officer Liza's speech on, well, welfare. Together, we unpacked our belongings, settled into our cabins and attended to housekeeping tasks and logistical arrangements while the camp leaders prepared dinner. Dinner comprised of chicken tenders and salad, providing much-needed fuel for our night ahead. Following dinner, it was time to swap out our camp t-shirts for tonight's costume theme: "Dress as your type." From hoodies and basketball singlets to dresses and bikini tops; a diverse array of costumes filled the night with vibrant energy. Accompanied by upbeat disco music, adventurous DJs and beaming lights, we danced and sang late into the night. As the night waned, one by one, we retired to our beds, eager to rest and recharge for an action-packed Day 2.
Saturday 9 March - Day 2:
On the morning of the second day, the Jaffies were woken up by the lovely and harmonic sound of Liza’s yelling and pots and pans, signalling the start of breakfast. A breakfast of champions, toast and cereal. Allowing some time for organisation and regular morning routines, the first years then split up into their teams and engaged in a round robin of arduous team building activities, all of which counted towards their team's tally of points. These includes activities such as tarp flip, capture the flag and the coveted condom wrestling.
After an intense 2 hours of team activities, the smell of sizzling sausages and mi goreng noodles filled the air, signifying an absolute lunch feast. However, there was no rest for the wicked, as immediately after lunch the anticipated Beer Olympics started, with each team showing their drinking prowess and vying for ultimate Olympic glory. Activities here included beer pong, flip cup and rage cage, yet the highlight was when everyone set team rivalry aside and mucked about on the slip-and-slide!
After some well-earned rest, the ultimate competition was held; Boat races, where each team competed in a tournament style drinking race, hoping to be the prestigious victors. In the end, White team dominated, skulling XXXX Gold beers and Somersby's ciders at an unprecedented speed.
A quick trivia session resembling Wednesday night of O-Week contained the full gamut of embarrassing camp leader tea - if you want to know more, ask us! A dinner of lasagna, French fries and salad was subsequent. After dinner everyone dressed up into the theme of the night, ‘White lies and red flags’, showing some people’s true colours and creating ‘interesting’ conversation starters. Meanwhile, the key themes from night 1 continued - discos, DJs and (tightly regulated) drunkenness. Overall, whilst day 2 of camp presented a jam-packed schedule of activities, the organisation by Kyle and camp leaders allowed for a seamless transition between events and an enjoyable day for the first years.
Sunday 10 March -Day 3:
The Jaffies once again awoke to the energizing symphony of clinking pots and pans. With only a few hours of sleep under our belts, we hurriedly gathered for breakfast, which was followed by presentation of individual and team awards. The orange team won for the fourth year running... crazy! Afterwards, we packed our belongings, and paused to capture our annual camp photo. As the clock ticked 11am, we bid farewell to the endless sand, knowing that our time at Waratah Beach Camp had sadly come to an end. On our journey back to Melbourne, nearly all passengers, both camp leaders and Jaffies, were sound asleep— a reflection of the adventure and fun we all shared. Biomedicine Camp 2024 was an experience like no other. From dress-up party nights illuminated by disco lights to the exhilarating spirit of team competition, Biomedicine Camp has left us with countless moments and memories that will be cherished in years to come.
First-Year Reviews:
“My highlight of camp was getting to know so many different people and learning about them in sometimes weird contexts, for example cabin bonding and team games, while also being able to embrace my competitive side.” - Georgia
“My highlight of the camp is the white lies red flags party. The words written on my shirt were such a good conversation starter and I'm so glad I had the chance to hear all the interesting experiences and stories from other people!!” - Jess
“My highlight of the camp was without a doubt meeting so many new and interesting people, being with friends and a part of such an inclusive and friendly environment. The reason for this is because it is the people, the conversations and bonds that truly make the events memorable not just the activities.” - Will
More reviews and photos on our cAMP 2024 page!
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