Bluestar Summer Camp 2019

    Day 15 Shopping Day

    5 August 2019 10:01:31 AM
    We had a great day shopping at the Pearl Markets with our translator, Harley and we really enjoyed our lunch at Pizza Hut and some Ice Chocolates (and a coffee for me) at Bondi Coffee, a little cafe owned by an Aussie in Beijing.


    Image:Day 15 Shopping Day

    Image:Day 15 Shopping Day

    Image:Day 15 Shopping Day

    Image:Day 15 Shopping Day

    Image:Day 15 Shopping Day

    Image:Day 15 Shopping Day

      Day 14 The 30th Bluestar Summer Camp Closing Ceremony

      3 August 2019 09:41:27 PM
      After all the hard work in rehearsals, today was the Closing Ceremony of the 30th Bluestar Summer Camp.


      It was a fabulous performance and we all did great.

      Class 1 with Will, Ollie & Cohen performed a Cinderella story , Class 2 with Max & Josh,  performed the Bluestar Musical.

      Team Australia acted out The Rainbow Serpent , an Aboriginal Dreamtime story.

      The Interest Classes performed their Tai Chi and Kung Fu and the Overseas Team Leaders sand a song in Mandarin, called Mission.

      Then all the Campers performed the Bluestar Summer Camp Song!

      We are all a bit sad saying Goodbye to our new friends, but are excited for Shopping tomorrow!

      Image:Day 14 The 30th Bluestar Summer Camp Closing Ceremony

      Image:Day 14 The 30th Bluestar Summer Camp Closing Ceremony

      Image:Day 14 The 30th Bluestar Summer Camp Closing Ceremony

      Image:Day 14 The 30th Bluestar Summer Camp Closing Ceremony


      Image:Day 14 The 30th Bluestar Summer Camp Closing Ceremony

      Image:Day 14 The 30th Bluestar Summer Camp Closing Ceremony

        Day 13 Closing Ceremony Rehersals

        2 August 2019 07:58:02 PM

        More rehearsals today, we have been practising the Bluestar Camp song, our class performance and our performance from Australia.

        I think it has starting to sink in that we only have one more day of camp and we will be saying Goodbye to our new friends from around the world.


        Image:Day 13 Closing Ceremony Rehersals

        Image:Day 13 Closing Ceremony Rehersals

        Image:Day 13 Closing Ceremony Rehersals

        Image:Day 13 Closing Ceremony Rehersals

        Image:Day 13 Closing Ceremony Rehersals

        Image:Day 13 Closing Ceremony Rehersals


          Day 12 Jinhai Lake

          1 August 2019 10:22:51 PM
          Today was the day they had all been waiting for...they finally got to get wet.

          With another one and a half hour drive, we went to a beautiful area called Jinhai Lake.

          In the morning session, we were kayaking and the afternoon session was some games in the kayak and finally a swim (yay!!!)

          Great fun was had by all and it was very refreshing.

          (I couldn't take my camera on the water, but the Bluestar team took some shots and if I get more I will add them to the  blog).

          Image:Day 12 Jinhai Lake

          Image:Day 12 Jinhai Lake

          Image:Day 12 Jinhai Lake

          Image:Day 12 Jinhai Lake

          Image:Day 12 Jinhai Lake

          Image:Day 12 Jinhai Lake

          Image:Day 12 Jinhai Lake

            Day 11 Camp Birthday & Costume Party

            1 August 2019 12:00:58 AM
            Today we woke up, did our morning exercises , had breakfast, and Rehearsals, Rehearsals, and more Rehearsals for the Camp Closing Ceremony.

            After dinner it was Party time, and we celebrated the 30th Birthday of Bluestar and our Camp friends Birthdays also.

            We did a fashion parade with our fabulous Aussie themed costumes and we got to share our Tim Tams, Anzac biscuits, Caramelo Koalas and Vegemite Shapes..they were a definitely a hit.

            Then our campers showed some of their talents, some of the Aussies joined in with the Spanish and Brazilian campers and did the Macarena.

            We are all excited to be going to the lake tomorrow to do some canoeing.

            Image:Day 11 Camp Birthday & Costume Party

            Image:Day 11 Camp Birthday & Costume Party

            Image:Day 11 Camp Birthday & Costume Party

            Image:Day 11 Camp Birthday & Costume Party

            Image:Day 11 Camp Birthday & Costume Party

            Image:Day 11 Camp Birthday & Costume Party

            Image:Day 11 Camp Birthday & Costume Party



              Day 10 The Forbidden City, the Museum, and Kung Fu Show

              31 July 2019 01:14:55 AM
              Today was another busy day at camp with an early wake up and Breakfasts to head out to Beijing.

              We began with a walk through Tian An Men Square and the Forbidden City, where we learnt about the history of the city.

              Then with KFC on the bus, we went to the Museum. In the evening we went for dinner and finally got to have duck pancakes.

              We finished the evening with a thrilling Kung Fu show .


              Image:Day 10 The Forbidden City, the Museum, and Kung Fu Show

              Image:Day 10 The Forbidden City, the Museum, and Kung Fu Show

              Image:Day 10 The Forbidden City, the Museum, and Kung Fu Show

              Image:Day 10 The Forbidden City, the Museum, and Kung Fu Show

              Image:Day 10 The Forbidden City, the Museum, and Kung Fu Show

              Image:Day 10 The Forbidden City, the Museum, and Kung Fu Show

              Image:Day 10 The Forbidden City, the Museum, and Kung Fu Show

                Day 9 Getting ready for the Closing Ceremony & Interest Classes

                29 July 2019 08:51:44 PM
                Today we stayed at the hotel and did some preparation for the closing ceremony. The campers all did some drawings to represent the 30th Bluestar Summer Camp.

                Then evening Interest Classes after dinner  where the Drawing class coloured in pictures of Australian Animal masks. The platypus masks were mistaken for ducks !!!

                The Kung Fu Class is working hard on the routine for the Closing Ceremony with their teacher Whale.

                Tomorrow we have another big day out at The Forbidden City and a Kung Fu show in the evening.


                Image:Day 9 Getting ready for the Opening Ceremony & Interest Classes

                Image:Day 9 Getting ready for the Opening Ceremony & Interest Classes

                Image:Day 9 Getting ready for the Opening Ceremony & Interest Classes

                Image:Day 9 Getting ready for the Opening Ceremony & Interest Classes

                Image:Day 9 Getting ready for the Opening Ceremony & Interest Classes




                  Day 8 Arriving back from our Home Stay Visits

                  28 July 2019 06:45:11 PM
                  This evening the Campers arrived back from their Home Stay visits. They have all had a great weekend with many stories to tell.

                  Ollie and Cohen both went to the movies. Will went to the Zoo and saw the Panda's, Josh went and saw the Birds Nest and the Water Cube from the Beijing Olympics and Max went to a Train Museum.

                  While they were away, the leaders got to enjoy some time out and do some shopping, which we also really enjoyed.

                  This evening we are learning the basics of Portuguese, Spanish and Australian slang (taught by Josh, Will, Max ,Ollie and Cohen !!!).


                  Image:Day 8 Arriving back from our Home Stay Visits

                  Image:Day 8 Arriving back from our Home Stay Visits

                  Image:Day 8 Arriving back from our Home Stay Visits



                  Image:Day 8 Arriving back from our Home Stay Visits

                  Image:Day 8 Arriving back from our Home Stay Visits

                  Image:Day 8 Arriving back from our Home Stay Visits


                  Image:Day 8 Arriving back from our Home Stay Visits

                    Day 7 Home Stays

                    27 July 2019 12:32:53 PM
                    This morning our campers met up with their buddies after breakfast to head off to their Home Stay visit for the night.

                    Max is going to Jason's home.

                    Will is going to Peter's home

                    Josh is going to Bear's home,

                    Ollie is going to Tang shihao's home and

                    Cohen is going to Moses' and Henry's home.

                    And I am having a day out ;)

                    Image:Day 7 Home Stays

                    Image:Day 7 Home Stays

                    Image:Day 7 Home Stays

                    Image:Day 7 Home Stays

                    Image:Day 7 Home Stays

                      Day 6 The Summer Palace and other Beijing sights

                      27 July 2019 12:47:05 AM
                      Today was a very busy and fun-filled day. We woke up early , had breakfast and we headed to the buses for the 2 hour drive through the City to the North side of Beijing.

                      We took a boat up the river to the Palace entrance, and then once inside we caught another boat across the lake to look at the palaces.
                      We went into a palace built for the Emperor's Mother. It looked amazing , with lots of intricate details..but the stairs were not so inviting...

                      After lunch we went to the Soong Ching Ling Experience Centre were we found out about the first types of Chinese Currency and did some more Pottery Painting.

                      Then off to Dinner followed by an amazing acrobatics show with tight rope walkers, jugglers, acrobatics and more..they managed to get 10 ladies on a bicycle riding around the stage !!
                      (unfortunately no photos were allowed).

                      The drive back to the hotel was eased by the lollies they gave us.

                      Tomorrow the campers are going to their Home stay family for the night.


                      Image:Day 6 The Summer Palace and other Beijing sights

                      Image:Day 6 The Summer Palace and other Beijing sights

                      Image:Day 6 The Summer Palace and other Beijing sights



                      Image:Day 6 The Summer Palace and other Beijing sights

                      Image:Day 6 The Summer Palace and other Beijing sights

                      Image:Day 6 The Summer Palace and other Beijing sights