Year 4

Year 4 Camp provides the first overnight, away from school camping experience at Wycliffe. En route to camp students develop an appreciation for God's creation and for part of Australia's European exploration heritage in their visits to Mt York and Sofala and on the journey home expand their understanding of rural industries with a visit to the Cattle Drome.

Eventually the coach arrives at the camp destination: the National Trust Gold Mining village of Hill End, in the Central Tablelands region of NSW.

While in Hill End students are introduced to some of the heritage of their region and nation. Students have a "hands on" experience of gold fever. Some quickly realize that gold-panning is painstaking, even back-breaking work. Discovery of a little "colour" inspires some to engage in their very own gold rush.

During their stay in Hill End, students explore old alluvial diggings as well as undertake an underground mine tour. They walk near the site of Hawkins Hill, reputedly one of the richest quarter-mile of goldfields on earth. As their journey of discovery continues students begin to appreciate the harshness of life on the goldfields almost 150 years ago. Finally students are challenged to reflect on what is true treasure in God's eyes, hopefully becoming less entranced by worldly wealth.

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