Bushwhacked

Mark Haebich

Outdoor Education Coordinator

The two Bushwhacked classes for 2021 headed out with teachers Melaine Blair, Angela Olah, Tayler Roberts and myself for their first of three outdoor programs this year,  during the last week of Term 1. The program was hosted by Rubicon Education Outdoors at the Thornton campus, on the traditional lands of the Taungurung people. 

Students journeyed through a range of environments including the Cathedral Ranges (Nanadjong), Mount Torbreck, the Rubicon Valley historic area and the Goulburn River. Areas were traversed both on foot, during a self-sufficient overnight hiking experience, as well as using two-person inflatable rafts on the Goulburn River.  

A Character Strengths unit, the focus of Term 1 class and practical work, was concentrated on during this program. Students completed an assessment task which focused them on selected 'super' strengths as well as giving them the opportunity to “strength-spot” in themselves and their peers. There was also a practical assessment of the application of their character strengths completed using the observations of both Brunswick and Rubicon teachers. 

This was a wonderful first program for 2021. Both classes have laid a fantastic foundation for the rest of the Bushwhacked learning journey.

Watch the students hitting the rapids here!

Abbie Connolly

Bushwhacked Year 9

When we were almost at the top of Mount Torbreck, we had just walked through lots of bush areas so we hadn't seen the view yet, and this was our first proper look of it. The character strength I was using was appreciation of beauty, and gratitude because I was so happy and felt really good - because the view was so amazing and beautiful and I was very grateful I was experiencing it with all my friends.

Layla Abdul-Waheed

Bushwhacked Year 9

During the moment [that the] photos were taken, I felt proud because we had walked up nearly  all of Mount Torbreck and were nearly finished. The view was nice and the people around me were kind.   I felt relaxed.

Layla Carver

Bushwhacked Year 9

I will practice appreciation of beauty and excellence when I am grateful for nature and things around me. This is an important character strength because it means being grateful to nature, which is so necessary to human life.

I learned about different sorts of things to what school learning would be, like how to camp well (without toilets and things like that!), how to [cook on] trangias better, how to raft and how to collaborate as well, because everyone had to rely on each other. I got to know a lot of people better, because the best in people just naturally came out… people had to help out others.

Zoe Biancofiore

Bushwhacked Year 9

I was happy that we had finally gotten to the top and was in awe of the view. I think the character strength shown in this photo is humour and resilience - as I was feeling terrible only half an hour before!

Jed Gurtman

Bushwhacked Year 9

One of the places we went to was the Cathedral Ranges. We walked up onto the ridge and arrived at the farmyard campsite. After we arrived at the campsite we went for a walk along the ridgeline and arrived at Ned’s Peak, this was a really special place. The view was amazing and you could see the massive landscape. We got up really early so we could get to Ned’s peak for the sunrise.

This trip has taught me that I can easily make friends with other people and collaborate with them in group situations.

Harry Lalor

Bushwhacked Year 9

I found the assessment task easy because there were multiple times where I could just sit with other people and chat about it and write it down. I found it easy to ask them about this or that and to find out what character strengths they had developed for my own reflections. Doing the task collaboratively made it more enjoyable.

Tilly Stuart-Ali

Bushwhacked Year 9

It was fun; it was a nice experience as I had only really been camping once before it. The highlight for me was the rafting because I loved the view from the water. It was relaxing but there was also some adrenaline going down the rapids.

Matilda Lobb

Bushwhacked Year 9

The assessment supported our experience. Instead of just sitting around having a chat in our downtime, we spent this time helping each other with our reflections for the task.

Zac Saffin-Keating

Bushwhacked Year 9

I got to expand my skills in working with other people and to know my classmates a little bit better. All the great experiences we had there, including the river day, helped to support this. I paddled with someone that I wouldn’t normally work with and we got to know each other better and worked well together.