Outdoor & Environmental Studies

Alpine adventure like no other

In Week 8 of this term, we had the privilege of taking our Year 11 Outdoor & Environmental Studies students to Victoria’s High Country for their Unit 1 expedition. Heading along separate routes for the week, our four groups spent time (literally) in the clouds as we hiked Mt Loch, Mt Feathertop and Mt Bogong – carrying everything we needed to survive on our backs! 

The reward of returning to celebrate together on our final night at Mountain Creek was like no other… if only you could bottle up that feeling! Opportunities like this – to be humbled by the “great outdoors”; laughing around the trangia cooking circle, ready for a hot meal after “big slog!”; using our cunning wit in epic games of “Mafia” after dark; combat volatile (and exciting!) weather; deepening our connection with new & old friends alike and drawing strength from our resilience – we treasure deeply. 

Congratulations to these students on your hugely successful participation in this program!

~Rachel Malcolm & Josh Bartholomew, VCE OES Teachers

“When we reached the summit on the Thursday & stood on the can, myself & others were in complete awe of the view & how high we were. As we completed the hike, I was inspired to do similar hikes or maybe the same one again in the future – to feel that sense of achievement & flow.”

“The views from the top of the mountain were something that you hardly see. We responded to our environment with wonderment and interest, as we learnt more about the environment and its history. We developed a deep appreciation for, and connection to, the land and how it is used.”

“I felt amazement when I saw the view from the MUMC memorial hut near Mt. Feathertop. I felt very small and starstruck by the beauty of the surrounding mountains. I also felt a great sense of achievement when we finished our hikes each day. I had completed something new and challenging."

“I was in awe – watching the stars at night in a non-polluted sky. I also felt fulfillment - through experiencing the Alpine environment and how it functions, this brought me excitement – wanting to continue on until the end. By practising minimal impact strategies such as Leave no Trace and picking up after us, it allowed us to keep the landscape stay untouched and protected. Also learning how communication and getting closer with your group creates more enjoyment and more appreciation for the outdoors.”

"I also obtained a lot of knowledge about Victoria’s Alpine region. I learnt about special species, such as the Snow Gum trees, Bogong Moths & Mountain Pygmy Possums; and deepened my understanding of the regions' rich cultural significance throughout history. I felt immense respect at how the Traditional Land Owners, the Jaithmathang and Duduroa people, would use it as a meeting site to trade, for marriages and for celebration. I also saw first-hand the impact of hard-hooved animals introduced by cattle grazers and got to meet a Parks Victoria Ranger who manages local land."

Thank you to Duncan McKie, Emma Dielenberg, Allanah McCormack, Jorja Nunn, Aila Dekker, Archie Newnham, Lily Frowen, Ezra Geary, Jasper Symons, Evie Swan, Connor Murray and Rex Buchanan for your thoughtful testimonies.