Interhouse by the Sea: Eco-Challenge

29 September 2026Kionah W, Allard '27

As Orientation Week wrapped up, students were gearing up for one of Brentwood’s true autumn highlights: Eco-Challenge. Following an initial taste of house spirit at Fun & Games, students were ready for their first major interhouse showdown of the year.

“Eco-Challenge really sets the tone for enthusiastic and spirited competition between the houses,” shares Mr Cowie, who has been a teacher at the school for 50 years now! Taking place oceanside of the CIL, “This event is focused on outdoor activities and the environment. It has run here since 2002 but has happened on the first Friday of the school year since 2009” said Mr Norman, who organized the event. “It is always exciting to watch all the students try to perform the many stages of the event, especially when an Outdoor Pursuits student has a moment in the spotlight showing off what they have learned,” he added.

The roar of house chants echoed across the Mill Bay shoreline as the high-stakes event kicked off. Strategy, endurance, and raw house spirit are put to the test as competitors seamlessly navigate transitions between land and sea. Each leg of the relay demanded a unique skill set, forcing students to step up and perform under the intense pressure of the cheering crowd.

The competition ping-pongs between land and water: kayakers slice through the waves in a frantic sprint; ashore, runners are ready to sprint across campus; swimmers make their way through the icy waters of the Pacific; and students tackle the fire-building challenge. “It felt like we were standing for 15 minutes waiting for those fires to get going; not only did they have to start a fire, they also had to boil water over the flame,” shares Danni C, Allard ‘27. These are only a few of the many events that make up Eco-Challenge.

This year’s race delivered a nail-biting afternoon for many. For most of the relay, several houses traded the lead back and forth, with anticipation building up for the first win of the year. Ultimately, it was Mack-Ellis that pulled off the victory. These cohort houses erupted as members swarmed together in a frenzy to celebrate a hard-fought win, securing the first house points of the year and setting the bar high for competitions to come. “We were so happy. It is nice to win the first event of the year. We are trying to keep our streak going, hopefully winning the Interhouse Cup for the fourth year in a row,” share Mackenzie Interhouse Captains Ruby R, Mack ‘27, and Angelina N, Mack ‘27.

Let’s see how this tale unfolds with Interhouse events like basketball, Airband, and Mario Kart on the horizon.

See you at the next event!

Kionah W, Allard ‘27

Where Students Choose To Be