Outdoor Education

Year 9 Outdoor Education 

This term our Year 9 Outdoor Education students embarked on a hiking and camping journey along the Great Ocean Walk in the Otway National Park.

Katherine Richardson

9OE5B

‘For our Outdoor Education camp, we spent three days hiking along the Great Ocean Walk. We all spent weeks in preparation including learning about camping safety and what to pack in our massive packs. Days of waiting impatiently to board the mini bus suddenly came to a halt. Wednesday was the day it all began. We chaotically scattered our pack contents then proceeded to double and triple check we had everything, after all, we ourselves were responsible for everything on our back. Stumbling across the yard with a heavy weight on our back we all started to load ourselves onto the bus. With the radio in the back and our lunch in our laps we all excitedly chattered about what we were about to accomplish. Arriving at Castle Cove lookout was a shocking start to the hike as it was harsh and windy, but we pushed against the wind and began our eventful camp. The first night after a gentle afternoon of hiking was rewarding and calm, during dusk we all sat around each other and cooked a delicious dinner in our Trangia stoves.

The next day was much longer and harder. We started tough with steep sand dunes and long cliffside paths. Everything on the second day seemed longer, heavier, and harder with the sun melting our backs. Finally, after a long day we all set up camp and relaxed for a few minutes - then it came. The insanely heavy rain that didn't seem to stop. Throughout the night it had managed to flood a tent and forced us to cook our dinners under a stuffy piece of tarp. Come to our sleep it was still pounding down on us in our tents. But at least our sleeping bags were cosy. We woke the next morning to the muddy campsite and diligently packed up all our gear. After a short hike towards our final destination - the white contrast of the bus from the green environment caused us all to cheer with relief as it marked the end of our successful camp.

Thank-you to all the amazing staff who made camp possible; Mr Childs, Ms Cash, Ms Leggett and Ms Cameron-Martin.’