Year 5 Camp – Phillip Island Adventure Resort
Details for the 2026 Year 5 camp to Phillip Island Adventure Resort, Tuesday 6 – Friday 9 October 2026: departure and return times, packing list, medical and dietary forms, activities and the parent information session.
Year 5 students head to Phillip Island Adventure Resort in Cowes for three nights in the first week of Term 4, from Tuesday 6 October to Friday 9 October 2026. The resort sits on 40 hectares near Cowes and combines adventure activities with the wildlife experiences that make Phillip Island famous. This is the longest camp our students have attended so far, and a great preparation for the Year 6 Canberra tour.
Key details
| Dates | Tuesday 6 – Friday 9 October 2026 (Term 4, Week 1) |
| Depart | Tuesday 8:00am from the Junior gate, Chapel Road. Students meet in the Hall from 7:30am for roll call and bag loading |
| Return | Friday approximately 3:00pm to the Junior gate. A Portal notification will be sent when the coaches leave Cowes |
| Cost | Included in the camp and excursion levy – no additional payment |
| Forms due | Dietary and Medical form due Friday 18 September 2026 (last day of Term 3) via the Parent Portal |
| Information session | Wednesday 2 September 2026, 6:30pm – 7:15pm, Mary MacKillop Hall (parents and students welcome) |
| Staff | Mr Daniel Ruiz (Year 5 Coordinator), three Year 5 teachers, Ms Alana Ford (Junior School Counsellor), one education support officer, resort instructors |
| Accommodation | Lodge-style rooms of 6–8 beds with ensuite, same-gender, staff rooms on each corridor |
Please note that Term 4 begins on Monday 5 October 2026 and students attend school as normal that day in summer uniform. Camp departs the following morning.
Information session – Wednesday 2 September
Mr Ruiz will run through the itinerary, cabin groupings, medication procedures, packing and behaviour expectations, with time for questions. The session will not be recorded, but the slides will be posted on the Parent Portal the next day. Please RSVP via the Portal so we can set up enough chairs.
Dietary and Medical form
The form is on the Parent Portal under Forms → Year 5 Camp Phillip Island 2026 and must be completed by Friday 18 September 2026, even if your child has no medical conditions. The resort caterers require dietary requirements three weeks in advance, so late forms may mean the resort cannot cater for special diets. Medication is handed in on departure morning in a named zip-lock bag with a Medication Authority form – never in the child's bag. See Medical Forms and Health.
Program outline
| Day | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 6 October | Depart 8:00am; morning tea stop at Koo Wee Rup; arrive, lunch and orientation; afternoon initiative games and giant swing; evening beach walk at Smiths Beach |
| Wednesday 7 October | Rotations: flying fox, archery, high ropes, raft building on the resort lake; evening Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach (rug up!) |
| Thursday 8 October | Koala Conservation Reserve and Nobbies boardwalk; afternoon beach activities and surf-awareness session at Cowes (lifeguard-supervised, no swimming beyond knee depth); evening trivia and talent night |
| Friday 9 October | Pack up; A Maze'N Things; lunch; depart 12:30pm; arrive approximately 3:00pm |
All water activities are supervised by qualified resort staff; students wear life jackets for raft building. Weather can change the order of activities.
Full packing list
One bag (soft bag or suitcase, maximum 15 kg) plus a small day-pack. Label everything and pack with your child.
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Sleeping | Sleeping bag or single sheet set and doona, pillow and pillowcase, pyjamas (two pairs recommended) |
| Clothing | 4 t-shirts, 2 warm jumpers or fleeces, 1 pair long pants, 1 pair tracksuit pants, 2 pairs shorts, 5 pairs socks, 5 sets underwear, waterproof jacket, beanie, warm coat for the Penguin Parade (it is cold and windy at night) |
| Swimming | Bathers, rash vest, beach towel, thongs |
| Footwear | Runners (worn), spare closed-toe shoes for wet activities, thongs or slides |
| Toiletries | Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap or body wash, shampoo, hairbrush and ties, deodorant (roll-on, no aerosols), sunscreen SPF 50+, lip balm, 2 towels |
| Day-pack | Named drink bottle (1 litre), hat, rain jacket, Tuesday morning tea and lunch in disposable wrapping |
| Optional | Torch, book, cards or travel game, disposable or simple digital camera (no phones), small soft toy |
| Do NOT pack | Phones, smart watches, tablets or gaming devices; food beyond Tuesday lunch (including lollies); aerosols; money (there is nothing to buy); hair straighteners or dryers |
Students travel in casual clothes. Please pack a plastic bag for wet and sandy clothes.
Behaviour and cabin groups
Students nominate three friends on the Portal form and are guaranteed at least one. Cabin groups are finalised by teachers and shared with students on Thursday 1 October. Our usual expectations under the Behaviour and Restorative Practices Policy apply on camp. In the rare case of serious or repeated unsafe behaviour, parents may be asked to collect their child from Cowes.
Communication during camp
We follow a "no news is good news" approach. Mr Ruiz will phone families directly if a child is ill, injured or persistently distressed. Photos and a short update will be posted on the Parent Portal news feed each evening. In an emergency during camp, phone the school mobile 0428 555 011 (monitored 24 hours by camp staff) or the Junior Office on (03) 9555 0100 in business hours.
Not attending
If your child cannot attend, please email Mr Ruiz before Friday 18 September. A supervised program will run with the Year 4 classes. Camp costs are not refundable, as they are part of the levy included in fees.
See also the Excursions and Camps Policy and Year 6 Camp – Canberra for what comes next year.