In semester 2 of this year, I chose to do the MUIR elective.

MUIR is a subject where you not only learn outdoor skills such as using orienteering, snorkelling, archery, camping and swimming, but also where you can build and improve your collaboration, teamwork and communication whilst also developing leadership skills along the way.

We used collaboration in our MUIR class to work as effectively and as efficiently as possible to ensure that our OLP experience in the elective was as positive and fun as possible. We used teamwork with this as well as we all grew together throughout the subject and learnt a lot of things about each other that made us all grow closer as many of us were unfamiliar with each at first, this helped with both our collaboration and our communication skills as we progressed and were able to all attend the Rottnest camp with a toolbelt worth of learning skills to help us along the way.

At the start of the semester, my goals for the subject were to improve my teamwork and courage by doing things I have never done before and stepping out of my comfort zone with people I was not as familiar with.

I have learnt a lot of things along the way and was able to achieve my goals in the meantime.

We were given a massive opportunity in term 4 by being given the chance to go on the 1st overnight trip that the College has ever had at Rottnest Island. I had never been to the Island before and was ecstatic to visit and thrilled by the opportunity.

On the camp, we saw many of the islands friendly residents, such as the Quokkas that have become smart enough to learn how to open many people’s backpacks and food containers and the seagulls who were also friendly enough to take a liking to many peoples hotdogs. With flora lying around the island such as bushes of beaded samphire and beautiful, flowering coastal pigface dotting the islands with blooms of life and colour,

During the camp, we were tasked with going on a day trip to one of the Island’s many beaches named The Basin, it was absolutely gorgeous and a super fun day out. Although the waters were pretty, the temperatures were very chilly and it was hard to wrap your head around adjusting to the cold and trying to focus on something else, the waves became a bit choppy as we went further out as well so people were feeling very tired afterwards from using up so much energy. We adapted and managed this by changing our mindsets from a negative approach to the weather and conditions to a more positive direction. This proved very helpful and many of us enjoyed the activity more.

I learnt a lot from MUIR but I most importantly learnt a lot about myself, I learnt that I am capable of many things but only if I can put my mind to it and the only person who is holding me back is myself. I learnt the importance of relying on a team of supportive classmates is the most important skill to master and that they will always have your back and be there if you need to ask for help. MUIR has let me discover how important these life skills are and how much easier things could be if I were to use them in the future of my schooling and work life.

MUIR has reminded us of the importance of the Leave No Trace system that the subject so positively implies in each activity, reminding us of the importance of looking but don’t touch the beautiful wildlife and plantations but also being sure to leave exactly how you left if not better than before to ensure the ecosystem is able to thrive and flourish in all its glory and grace.