OUTDOOR EDUCATION

When we think about education our first instinct usually is to visualise a classroom with a whiteboard, computer, chairs and desks. But that is not the complete picture. The importance of Outdoor Education is vital to our students’ growth and is something we take very seriously.

With some of the world's most exciting experiences in our own backyard, Head of Outdoor Education Mr Constantin Gerasimon has developed some inspiring activities for students to broaden their appreciation of the environment, nature and personal development.

Everyone is different, we all have different backgrounds, interests, skillsets and personalities. Outdoor Education provides students with the opportunities to apply themselves in a space that isn’t like the classroom.

“Students and teachers get to know a lot more about each other in Outdoor Education. Students might find something they really excel at or learn something about others that they wouldn’t have known or thought about in the classroom.

Mr Gerasimon continues “We operate on a basis of challenge by choice. Students are encouraged to give everything a go even if they do not believe that they can. We also don’t present challenges that we don’t think students can succeed at.” Outdoor Education provides a link to confidence that can’t always be found in a classroom. A recent trip to Hayes Creek for rock climbing and abseiling demonstrated this for one VCE student. A student who in previous years feared heights approached abseiling with all his courage and composure, leaps and bounds ahead of his old self.

“It is the honesty of knowing where his fears lie that has helped him confront and address them on his own terms”.

Specialist programs throughout May to August have been designed to cater for all our students from Years 5 to 9.

Year 5—Riyala Camp

An introduction to camping with environmentally focused activities, group work, bushcraft and camp skills and an opportunity for students to become comfortable with multi-night camps.

Year 6—Adventure Bound

A challenge base camp, students partake in abseiling, rock climbing, zip-lining and other activities. Students get to take on new and exciting tasks.

Courage outside the classroom

Year 7—Eastern Litchfield

An introduction to expedition-style outdoor journeys, students move campsite each day with the longest walk being about 5 km. All personal equipment and some group equipment is carried by students in a hiking pack.

Year 8—Western Litchfield

A step up from the Year 7 program—the longest distance is close to 10 km a day. This program fosters student leadership, group work and requires students to navigate and work together to arrive at their destinations.

Year 9—Lake Argyle

A six-day expedition, with a day of student travel on each end to reach the majestic Lake Argyle in Western Australia’s East Kimberley region. Excellent fishing, swimming, rock jumping and some exciting side trips make this an amazing journey and something that is regularly identified by students as the best trip of their lives.

The VCE Outdoor Education students also undertook a four-day expedition last term that linked practical experience with their curricular studies. There was a focus on risk assessment, personal determination and self-reflection.

Well done to all students who undertook this program! It was a resounding success due to their keenness to be in the great outdoors.