Outdoor Education Centre as part of that four-week programme. All Year 10 boys are registered in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award. Those who went followed the same programme that the Immerse and Inspire groups did over the 2020 winter. By completing the week, the boys could achieve their Adventurous Journey section of the Hillary Award. The format meant they had two nights out in the Boyle River area learning the camping and tramping skills needed to plan and participate in their own tramping trip. On Wednesday they were back at the base camp to participate in a variety of group- based activities including high and low rope challenges and a range of night activities. Then on Thursday, they were set an area in the Lewis Pass to plan their group tramp to complete the Adventurous Journey Section of the Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award. This involved an overnight tramp to a campsite and then on the Friday, the return to the Boyle River lodge to travel back to College. This week was a demanding one for many of the boys, which is the goal of the Hillary Award – to immerse and challenge the boys in the environment and develop their spirit of adventure and discovery. The goal now is for the boys to take this outdoor tramping experience to the next level, by heading out on more trips into the wilderness.
In 2021 we have had an increasing number of boys complete their Silver and Gold Award Adventurous Journey in the Duke of Edinburgh Award via Boyle River, Spirit of Adventure, Outward Bound, Peel Forest or Bush Works providers. This year via the Venture Group we have again run two College Silver and Gold Adventurous Journeys. I am really pleased with the progress more boys have made, heading out into the wilderness and learning to challenge themselves through the outdoors. The Duke of Edinburgh is making significant progress with six boys achieving their Gold Duke of Edinburgh award this year. In June we saw two Year 10 boys achieve their Bronze award. This was due to a pilot programme run in 2020 where these two boys started their award when they turned 14, instead of waiting until Year 10 to enrol. Due to the new College Diploma, we have revamped the method of joining the Bronze Award. Year 9 boys are invited to join from Term 4. If they complete their Bronze award they will be refunded their enrolment fee. By beginning their Bronze Award in Year 9 they will then have plenty of chances to complete their Silver award by the end of Year 11. This will allow motivated boys to achieve their Silver or Gold sections of the Adventurism and Service sections of the diploma. We also had one boy finish his Silver
Award early in 2021. Hopefully, this sets him up to finish his Gold Award by the end of Year 12. Very few manage this feat. We also may see for the first time next year over nine boys achieve their Gold award. Watch this space.
VENTURE GROUP The College Venture Group is
continuing to expand. This is now the third year it has been offered as a sport to boys who wish to learn tramping and mountaineering skills. It is anticipated that over the next few years it will expand to offer more Silver and Gold Adventurous journeys as the group grows in numbers and experience. The Year 9 Activity Week and the four Year 10 Adventurous Journeys are a huge commitment for the staff of College. Across both year groups, we had more than 260 boys involved in a range of outside-the-classroom activities. This meant over the year, more than 30 staff either departing from College for a day trip or away from home for a few nights on camp. Some staff have had 3-4 trips away with the boys this year. I would like to thank all the staff and our providers for making these activities a success for our boys. Graeme Christey MiC Outdoor Education and Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award
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Register 2021 Culture
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