Field Trips

Year 12-13 VETR Conservation field trip

Field trips are a key aspect of the Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) programme at St Andrew’s. So far this year, students have taken part in a range of exciting, educational trips, often in some of the most beautiful corners of the South Island. Learning outside the classroom adds relevance to their classroom work, and in some cases, gives them the opportunity to put the theory they have been learning into practice. Following are some highlights of the 2022 field trip programme. Year 11 Geography field trip to the West Coast, Hanmer Springs, and Kaikoura

The main purpose of the Year 11 Geography students’ trip to the West Coast, Hanmer Springs, and Kaikoura was for them complete their geographic research in Blackball, which aimed to determine the future population of the town. Students also visited an operational opencast coal mine near Reefton, participated in tourism ventures in Hanmer Springs, and gained an understanding of the changes to an environment because of the Kaikoura earthquake.

Year 12 Geography trip to Aoraki Mt Cook National Park

The Year 12 Geographers enjoyed three days exploring a winter wonderland at Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. This included summiting the Red Tarns in knee-deep fresh snow, seeing firsthand the rapidly retreating Tasman Glacier, and spending two nights enjoying spectacular views from Unwin Mountaineering Lodge. Year 12–13 VETR Conservation field trip

A group of 14 students spent two days working on a conservation project at Castle Hill focused on mitigating wilding pines, with their efforts linked to an achievement standard. Castle Hill conservationist, community leader, and former Antarctic field guide, Ray Goldring, expressed his thanks to the students, who learnt that without wilding pine removals over the last 12–14 years, they would now be travelling to the West Coast through a five metre plus high forest of wilding pines starting from Porters Pass to and beyond Lake Pearson.

Year 13 Travel and Tourism trip to Queenstown

A group of 32 Year 13 students were fortunate to experience Queenstown for four days as tourists. The trip included a visit to Highlands Motorsport Park, a trip up the gondola and luge rides, a jetboat ride into the Mt Aspiring National Park up the Dart River, the famous Kawerau Gorge bungy jump, and a visit to Arrowtown to learn about the history of the Chinese goldminers. Students also visited Queenstown Resort College to consider further study in adventure tourism or hospitality, and the Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel to learn about the accommodation side of tourism. Queenstown locals working in the tourism and hospitality sectors spoke to the students about the shortage of people to fill job vacancies with the borders opening up. Travel and Tourism teacher, Ian Morrison, organised and managed the trip, with his expertise and knowledge of history and geography, adding value to the students’ experience. Year 10 Agriscience field trip to the National Trade Academy

The Year 10 Agriscience classes attended a field trip to the National Trade Academy where they experienced a wide variety of practical primary industry activities. Students rode two-wheeler motorbikes and quadbikes, tied fencing knots, handled sheep, groomed and tacked horses, repotted seedlings, and helped out with the feeding and care of animals in the farm park.

Year 12 Travel and Tourism trip to the West Coast

The Year 12 Travel and Tourism students spent three days on the wild West Coast. Driving through a wintery Arthur’s Pass was stunning, with the snow-covered Alps and vast icy landscapes. Students visited the Hokitika Gorge and the Treetops Forest Walk, where they saw vegetation that hasn’t changed since ancient times. On Day 2 they visited the Pancake Rock formations which, at high tide, produced amazing mist sprays through the blowholes. Sea caves and seal colonies, wild west coast beaches and rogue waves made for an interesting and educational day as students followed in the footsteps of Thomas Brunner and Kehu in 1846. Visits to the towns of Hokitika, Greymouth and Westport helped the students with their Unit Standard looking into the social and cultural impacts of tourism on the West Coast.