Outdoor Education 

Year 12 OES Heart Morass excursions

Year 12 Outdoor and Environmental Studies students recently participated in their final practical experience for the year, visiting the Heart Morass and Sale Wetlands to investigate environmental health and management strategies.

At the Heart Morass, a privately owned conservation area that has been successfully revegetated from an overgrazed cattle farm into a thriving reserve, students conducted observations to evaluate the overall health of the environment. The excursion then continued to the Sale Common Nature Reserve, where students explored public land management strategies and compared these approaches to those used in private conservation.

In class, students have also been studying ethical consumerism. This learning was applied during the excursion as they evaluated the sustainability of their lunch choices in Sale and examined the environmental impact of outdoor equipment.

Year 12 OES The Cape

The Year 12 Outdoor and Environmental Studies students visited the Cape Eco-Village in Cape Paterson to explore how individuals can contribute to sustaining outdoor environments through green building design and sustainable urban planning. The Cape was established as a benchmark for sustainable living.

During the excursion, students toured the estate, examining the community garden and the ways it has been integrated with the natural environment. They also had the opportunity to explore a sustainable home, learning about the design features that achieved an 8-star energy rating, including building orientation, use of sustainable materials, and the incorporation of solar panels.

Students also examined the impact of climate change on outdoor environment through erosion on Inverloch beach and mitigation strategies that are put in place to reduce these impacts.

Year 11 Den of Nargun

As part of their Outcome 3 studies for this unit, the Year 11 students were required to plan and lead a practical outdoor experience. During the term, students prepared for both a practice bushwalk and an overnight bushwalk, completing all aspects of planning, including the development of a proposal submitted to the School Council for approval.

The Den of Nargun excursion was the first of these practice walks. This location was selected due to its proximity to the school and its cultural significance. Students undertook a circuit walk where they developed skills in group walking techniques and effective communication while on a bushwalk.

Georgia King

Outdoor Education