The most beautiful autumn weather accompanied Academy Members during a three day visit to the Department of Sport and Recreation Camp at Lake Burrendong on the 7-9 April 2008.

About 100 Academy Members from Bourke, Brewarrina, Cowra, Canobolas, Bathurst, Kelso, Wellington, Dubbo South Campus, Delroy Campus and Narromine absolutely filled to bursting point the available dormitories and sporting facilities at Lake Burrendong.

Throughout the three days at camp all participants were rotated through a core set of group activities conducted by professional staff from the Department of Sport and Recreation. These activities included having fun in the swimming pool, canoeing, grass skiing and "Mission Impossible".

Supplementary activities were conducted by special guests on each day of the camp. On Monday, Steve Hall, representing NSW Rugby League, put players through various training activities to increase their ball skills and tackle abilities. At the same time, basketball adherents were challenged by a highly skilled basketball coach to reach high and to block effectively.

Monday evening saw a special event take place - "Star Wars" on the oval! If enjoyment can be gauged by the strength of yells and screams eminating from participants, then this activity was a great hit!

Tuesday offered a slight change of pace when attendees were given the option of getting involved in AFL and/or soccer. An added bonus was in store for all students attending camp. Paul Habel, Regional Manager, AFL (NSW/ACT), presented each and every participant with a back-pack containing gifts which included an AFL cap and an invitation to register for a special pass that allows AFL games to be attended free of charge.

All students from Wellington, Dubbo South Campus, Delroy Campus and Narromine attended a Cultural Workshop on Tuesday. An older Aboriginal woman from the Yarradamarra Centre, Dubbo TAFE, led the students in an examination of their values and hopes for the future.

At lunchtime Tuesday, a special guest speaker addressed the assembled throng. Max Sonter, a great Rugby Union player, was only too happy to recount some tales from his life story to inspire the up and coming sports men and women.

Photography was on the program for Tuesday. Suddenly the camp site seemed to be overrun by individuals with cameras snapping shots of anything and everybody! Photos were downloaded onto a computer and prepared for printing. Perhaps we'll see some of these photos entered in a photographic competition later in the year.

Activities on Tuesday afternoon were interrupted by a sudden downpour of rain. The grass skis were likely to become bogged if participants ventured out onto the slopes! Quick thinking by Craig, a member of the staff from Sport and Recreation, enabled a rescheduling of some activities to inside venues. Thank you Craig.

The rain cleared in time for preparations for the disco to take place. Hair had to be straightened, make-up applied and clean clothes dug out from the bottom of bags. Some would-be revellers were so tired out from the day's activities that they couldn't make it onto the dance floor! Well that's their story and they're sticking to it!!

Wednesday morning came only too quickly. Special activities on Wednesday included Student Leadership and Bushwalk options. The most important tasks of the day however involved cleaning rooms and packing bags ready to leave camp. There were fond farewells and many hugs between friends when the Academy Members separated onto several different buses for the journey back home.

During the stay at camp all students with an interest in Touch Football, AFL, Soccer and Basketball were given the opportunity to try out for membership of teams that will participate in the Wambool Games in September 2008. For those particularly skilled Academy Members who were selected for teams, their message to fellow team members was "See you in September!"