Outdoor Ed / Outdoor Environmental Studies
Outdoor Education/Outdoor Environmental Studies (images below article)
The term so far…
This term has been phenomenal, after spending so long inside or confined to 5km zones with the ever-looming risk of having to isolate or wear masks it was so nice to spend time outside participating in group recreation and study out-of-doors.
So far this term students from year 10, 11 and 12 across the outdoor courses have had opportunities to participate in some really enjoyable and eye-opening experiences.
The year 10 Outdoor Education groups have been out Stand-up Paddle Boarding or “SUP-ing” in Anglesea and ran through an always important First Aid, CPR and Anaphylaxis course.
The paddle board day was a great introduction to the broader range or outdoor recreation activities available for both fun and even employment. Students explored the Coogoorah Wetlands, an estuarine ecosystem and with discussion around the retired ALCOA coal mine and powerplant, local flora and fauna and of course who was going to fall in first.
The year 11 VCE Outdoor Environmental team have been to an introductory day participating in indoor rock-climbing at Hardrock in the CBD and also discovered a GPS navigation activity called Geocaching.
The climbing experience was the first of three. Students learned the basics of top rope climbing and worked with amazing enthusiasm getting used to heights and the communication required to successfully reach the top of a large number of climbs.
The group were really excited when they discovered their first Geocache also, the activity involves finding hidden containers (or caches) in bush and urban environments that can be logged online. These caches are often hidden with cryptic clues and backstories to their location.
Our teams found 6 very well hidden caches around Melbourne and were interested to read about local landmarks and historic locations during the hunt.
The year 12 VCE students have been into Melbourne to check out Australia’s indigenous relationships with the environment, the story of continental drift and the story of Melbourne’s early days at the Melbourne Museum.
After this, accompanied by ex-teacher Andrew McClean and School Mental Health Practitioner Alison Hicks explored the historic Dry Diggings goldfields from Glenluce, through Vaughn Springs, Fryerstown and into Castlemaine by foot. Hiking through some of Victoria’s most significant gold mining and colonial settlement areas, students were able to witness the environment, the impacts and remnants of practices of these early Victorian hopefuls.
The year 10 group is looking forward to their bush craft overnight camp which has had to move back (dates to follow soon) because of how busy we’ve all been! Next term there’s an orienteering day for year 10s a trip to explore the Western Volcanic grasslands. A second climbing day for year 11s and the overnight snow camp to Lake Mountain too!
