Survivor 2023
By Bronagh McHugh
Its day two of Survivor, and what an action-packed day our OPT and OAS team had in stall for our Hill Campers.
The day began with our teams getting colored up once again; spirit points are awarded throughout the games, so repping your team colors can make the difference in winning or losing.
Survivor ran various activities through the day that each team had to partake in for points.
The first activity to start the day off was the Poles, Logs and Stumps challenge. This required one person from each team who would be able to complete a full day of physical and mental endurance. The object of each of these challenges is to be the last team standing on the stump, on the fallen logs or with a hand on the pole. These challenges go from 9:40 AM and finish when there is one team left standing, no loopholes, just balance and determination!
For the rest of the team, they had team challenges to complete throughout the day, including an attempt to complete the warrior course as quickly as possible, and an archery competition where each member gets five arrows to shoot at the bullseye.
The obstacle course encouraged the entire team to try their best, putting their all into the course and hoping to end up in the top five times for their team. Each teams top five would be averaged for a final score. They also had the opportunity to gain extra points if a team member[s] were in the top 10 overall. There was a lot of tunnels, mud, and water to overcome, but the determination was remarkable, as our campers showed our staff how it was done, and some incredible times were recorded for our teams.
There was also an opportunity for each team to test their strength, through the tire flip and truck pull. Both challenges had to be completed by the entire team, as the aim was to flip a tractor tire along from one group of team members to the next, and back again. The truck pull had each team sweating truck across the finish line as quickly as possible, making it one of the tougher activities of the day.
During this time, there was a dunk in the Ice Bath, a Rock Climbing and Bouldering tournament, as well as a mountain biking route to be completed.
The aim of these activities was to test not only the strength and agility of each team, but to observe how they worked together towards the same goal. Splitting themselves into different activity areas, making sacrifices for the good of the team, as well as encouraging team spirit — all the elements that bring to light the character of the final survivor!
Each team also had to build their own fire in order to prove their cooking skills to our judges, presenting a gourmet meal and a dessert with creativity, taste, presentation marks all up for grabs.
Once each team had completed each activity, and the impromptu rain dance party, the judges knuckled down to tally up the final points.
As darkness fell upon Third Hill, our teams made their way up to the evening ceremony, walking the lantern-lit path for the final time. The echoes of the drums and whistling of the trees created the perfect atmosphere for the team’s entrance chant.
Third Hill was lit up by campfire light as each team made their way to their assigned spot, preparing for their final performance of Survivor 2023.
Each team had a handshake, dance and chant to perform for the judges, in a final attempt to gain the winning points. There were some laughs, and some insane gymnastic tricks as each team pushed for a memorable performance.
Then it was finally time for the announcement; Mark and Logan OPT walked around the circle of teams, putting out the lanterns until there was only one survivor.
Congratulations to — THE GREY NORTHER HAWK OWLS!
And that officially concludes SURVIVOR 2023!!
