OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMME

– Kevin Archbold and Sophie Fishpool, Outdoor Education Leaders

The Canberra Grammar School Outdoor Education Programme immerses students in valuable experiences that nurture resilience, teamwork, and essential life skills through engaging outdoor challenges.

2024 has been an exceptional journey for students across year levels, with over 1,500 students engaging in immersive outdoor experiences and creating lifelong memories. Across 6,000 student days and 4,000 nights, students developed resilience, teamwork, and essential life skills through various outdoor challenges.

Primary School Adventures

For many younger students, this year marked their first overnight outdoor experience. Year 2 students visited Birrigai in October, learning about place and Indigenous knowledge, building bush shelters, and exploring the countryside. Year 3 travelled to Attunga for two nights, where they tackled a caving ladder and aerial activities and enjoyed nature-focused art and games. Year 4 students also visited Attunga, where they spent the night camping in tents and storytelling around the fire—a memorable highlight along with the Giant Swing.

Building on previous experiences, Year 5 camped in tents, cooked on camp stoves, and embraced the ‘Challenge by Choice’ high ropes activities. Year 6 headed to Killalea, focusing on leadership through aquatic activities, navigation, and team-building initiatives.

Senior School Challenges

Year 7 began the year with a two-night programme fostering social connections, followed by another two-night camp in their Senior House Groups to build a sense of community. Year 8 took on a four-night challenge at Coolendel, including a two-night expedition carrying their gear. The experience, which included abseiling, a flying fox, and canoeing, fostered teamwork and adaptability.

In Year 9, students chose between three rolling camps: Bungonia (caving/ abseiling), Namadgi (climbing/abseiling), or Murramarang (canoeing). These options allowed them to select their level of challenge. Year 10 offered a range of adventure experiences, including sea kayaking in the Whitsundays, white-water paddling on the Snowy River, skiing and snowshoeing in Kosciuszko National Park, a mixed adventure in Jindabyne, the Urban Challenge in Sydney, and a cultural immersion in Northern NSW.

Year 11 IB students spent four days in Namadgi National Park, where they integrated Theory of Knowledge and science projects, exploring the connections between knowledge, science, and the environment.

Across all year levels, the Outdoor Education Programme provided students with invaluable experiences that challenged them and allowed them to build lasting friendships and develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world.