GROUPS & ACTIVITIES Outdoor Education
YEAR 9 ACTIVITY WEEK The Year 9 Outdoor Activity Week was held over two, three-day blocks from 23–25 November and 28–30 November. It was organised by Horizons Unlimited, an outdoor adventure group provider. Each block was split into three days of activities for half the year group (surfing, stand-up paddle board and rock climbing or mountain biking) and a two-night tramp in the Craigieburn area for the other half. For the tramp, 30 boys head from Cave Stream to Lake Pearson via Broken River and Helicopter Hill, while the other 30 travel in the reverse direction from Lake Pearson to Cave Stream. The tramp covers more than 30km, and includes multiple river crossings, forest trails and hill climbs. The boys either go through Cave Stream or raft Lake Pearson at the start or end of each trip.
The tramping programme is designed to set the foundation for the Bronze Adventurous Journey tramps in Year 10 and, hopefully, lead to more boys completing Silver and Gold Adventurous Journeys at College. Boys can submit the tramp as evidence for the Black and White level of the Discovery and Challenge section of the College Diploma. Sadly, this programme was truncated because of the weather. The river in Cave Stream was too high to allow the boys that experience during both weeks, so they undertook adventure- based learning instead. In the first week, rain meant the north-bound group missed the river-crossing section and took the wet-weather track instead. They completed all three days and were fortunate to raft the lake at the end. The south- bound group could not raft the lake because of strong winds. Unexpected heavy rain at their end of the tramp
meant they had to return to College the next afternoon (Thursday). On Friday, they tackled a high-ropes course at The Groynes instead. In the second week, the weather similarly shortened the activity. Cave Stream was too high, but the rafting group went ahead. The heavy rain forecast for Wednesday meant the boys were transported to The Groynes on Tuesday for an overnight stay and ropes course the following day. Despite this, it was a good experience. Outdoor Education is about learning more about yourself and the unexpected power of nature. This includes finding strengths you do not know you have. The boys developed as leaders (and followers), with physical and mental limits tested. The sub-goal for the Year 9 camps was to start preparing the boys for the Year 10 Immerse & Inspire Adventurous Journey. The boys were
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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