Camps & Excursions

Outdoor Education Camp - Halls Gap

Our Unit 3 & 4 Outdoor & Environmental Studies students were involved in an environmental camp from Dunkeld to Halls Gap. During this excursion we focussed on things like sustainability, management strategies and strategies we can do to support a healthy outdoor environment.

We visited an Ecolodge and enjoyed a walk to understand how we can minimise our impacts on the environment, and dropped in to Walker Swamp to see how environments can be brought back to their former glory. We then took a ‘bush’ track through the Grampians to Halls Gap, crossing the Wannon River in the process.

We were fortunate to get an in-depth tour of the Halls Gap Zoo which included some very up close interactions with the various animals they have there. An environmental session with a Ranger in Halls Gap, showed us how much goes in to looking after the National Park and many strategies used to keep the park as natural as possible. We helped as well by cutting out Sallow Wattle trees, which have become an invasive weed in that area.

Highlights of the camp were the river crossings in the bus, Maeve’s amazing Gymnastics routine and our BBQ breakfast with some bird life and a kangaroo who seemed to want more than just our breakfast!

-Mr Hopkins

Snow Trip

On Tuesday, August 27th, 29 excited students boarded the bus at 6:15 AM for an 8-hour journey to Mt. Hotham, eager to spend three days in the snowy Alps. However, upon arrival, disappointment set in as there was no snow in sight. Originally scheduled to hit the slopes on Wednesday, the group found themselves grounded due to the lack of snow and non-operational lifts. Instead, they passed the time playing board games, trying out new card games, and enjoying lodge activities like the pool table.

Fortunately, Wednesday night brought a welcome chill and some snowfall, allowing for a full day on the slopes on Thursday. The students made the most of it, although they were exhausted and turned in early. Sadly, Friday morning greeted them with a repeat of Wednesday’s conditions: no snow and strong winds kept the lifts closed. While disappointment lingered, everyone understood that weather is beyond anyone’s control.

To ensure a timely return, the bus was called to pick them up earlier than planned. Most students used the journey home to catch up on sleep, and they finally arrived back at school around 9:30 PM.

Overall, it was an adventure filled with ups and downs, but many students enjoyed the experience, and for some, it was their first time seeing snow.

Kryal Castle

Our Year 8’s stepped back in time with a thrilling trip to Kryal Castle! On an overcast October morning, excitement filled the air as students eagerly boarded the bus, gearing up for a day of medieval adventures. After a brief rest stop in Beaufort, we arrived at the castle to find blue skies and were greeted by our enthusiastic medieval guides. Our home base for the day was the castle's chapel, where we dove into an immersive experience of life in medieval times.

Students kicked off the day by exploring the social hierarchy of medieval Europe, and then split into two groups for hands-on activities that brought history to life! They were captivated by tales of medieval justice, including the intense methods of torture used for punishments, and even took part in a role-play of King Richard II’s infamous tax hikes, highlighting the struggles of the common people.

From there, students became apothecaries, creating their own herbal poultices (with a few 'green thumbs' along the way!) and trying out leatherworking to create unique key tags that they were excited to bring home. Archery and sword fighting were also on the agenda, where Ms. White wowed everyone with her impressive sword skills, sparring with students for a bit of light hearted competition!

Later, we all took part in a manorial court session, witnessing how justice was served – sometimes fairly, but often not – in medieval times. Our final stop was an up-close look at the armour and weapons used by knights. A few lucky students even got to don some of the armour, experiencing firsthand the weight of a helmet and the resounding clang of metal when struck by a sword.

With smiles all around and memories made, we wrapped up our day at Kryal Castle and returned home with new insights and exciting stories to tell. Mr. Hamence took a quick survey on the bus ride back, with student ratings ranging from 8 to a perfect 10! It was a fantastic day of experiential learning, bringing the classroom lessons vividly to life.