Outdoor Learning

Two weeks ago, our Year 7 cohort embarked on an unforgettable four-day Outdoor Learning Experience in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, providing a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the adventures, challenges and achievements shared along the way.

Throughout the experience, students embraced a range of classic outdoor pursuits, including sailing, rock climbing and mountain biking – many for the very first time. For a handful, the adventure even began with learning how to ride a bike! Each day was rounded off with an evening of reflection and debriefing in the tranquil surrounds of the Adelaide Hills, providing time to relax, share stories and celebrate the day’s achievements.

The camp also presented students with their first real opportunity to plan, prepare and cook their own meals using Trangias, our portable camping stoves. We were incredibly proud of the meals they produced, with many students surprising themselves with just how capable they were in the kitchen! For others, sleeping in a tent for the first time opened the door to an entirely new world of outdoor adventure.

Alongside these experiences, students enjoyed an Indigenous cultural presentation, while the final day saw them visit a plant nursery at Normanville to sow seeds for saplings they will have the opportunity to plant themselves next year during their Outdoor Learning Experience in Robe. A wonderful way to connect their experiences this year with the adventures still to come.

And the outdoor learning journey continues!

Tomorrow, our Year 5 students head off on their own Outdoor Learning Experience, stepping into the world of Storm Boy, the much-loved fictional South Australian icon. Over the coming days, they will explore the spectacular Coorong, discovering its unique landscape, wildlife and natural beauty while experiencing a little of the world through Storm Boy’s eyes.

From the Adelaide Hills to the Coorong, these experiences are about so much more than outdoor activities. They provide opportunities for our students to challenge themselves, build confidence, develop independence, strengthen friendships and create memories that will stay with them long after they return to school.

them outside a school setting, so we are keen to make the most of our time with them, as they take the time to frame their final school year.

Caleb Skirrow
Outdoor Learning Coordinator