Students from Shoalhaven, Nowra Christian, St John the Evangelist, Nowra and Bomaderry High Schools celebrated their conquered journey alongside the local Lions clubs at the Bomaderry Bowling Club.

For Blake Kelly, Erin Somerville, Brittanee Schinella, Nick Crawford, Justin Pritchard, Bethany O’Connor and Zac Remnant, the journey changed its trekking location of previous years through the Namadgi National Park near Canberra to the Snowy River National Park.

Shoalhaven High School student Blake Kelly said the rain was endless.

“We walked in the rain, set up camp in the rain and cooked in a swimming pool before looking forward to a 3am start and that was day one,” he said.

“We worked together to overcome fears. What we saw was truly amazing. And a hot cocoa at the end of the night topped it all off.”

St John the Evangelist High School student Brittanee Schinella found the experience emotional.

“It was really tough. It made me reflect on my life and my family back home who care about me so much,” she said.

“The whole experience changed my life.

“It felt amazing to do something I wouldn’t normally do.”

Bomaderry High School student Zac Remnant said the weight of the packs was a struggle.

“They averaged 20 to 30 kilograms,” he said.

“Mount McLeod was the highlight for me.”

Nowra Christian School student Erin Somerville left the course early after suffering a broken collarbone.

“We were playing a really intense version of hide and seek called camouflage and I ran and tripped and fell,” she said.

“I wanted to stay.

“I’ve learned I’m stronger than I thought I was and can overcome a lot of things I never thought I could.”

Nowra High School student Nick Crawford said the highlight was abseiling.

“I’m glad I stuck it out. There was a time I really wanted to go home.”

Outward Bound Australia national community partnership co-ordinator Lloyd Worthy said the course was a world leader in personal development.

“No one will deny the youth of today is confronted by a world that is, on one hand, fantastically exciting but on the other, fraught with potentially catastrophic personal pitfalls,” he said.

“Outward Bound aims to develop the most positive elements of our character consistent without core values of integrity, responsibility, resilience, compassion, service and potential.”