GROUPS & ACTIVITIES Outdoor Education
The Year 9 outdoor activity week format was held over three two-day blocks from November 28–29 and December 2–5. It was organised by Horizons Unlimited and OENZ, outdoor adventure group providers, and FACT (First Aid and CPR Training). Each block was split into two days of activities for each third of the year group (surfing/stand-up paddle board, and rock climbing/first aid) and an overnight tramp in the Craigieburn area. The tramp involved half the boys heading from Cave Stream to Mistletoe Flat Shelter and the other half starting in the reverse direction to Cave Stream. The tramp covers more than 20km of terrain, including multiple river crossings, forest trails, and hill climbs and descents. The tramping programme sets the foundation for the Bronze Adventurous Journey tramps in Year 10 and, hopefully, leads to more boys completing Silver and Gold Adventurous Journeys at College. Boys can use the tramp as evidence of a Black and White level of the Discovery and Challenge section of the College Diploma. Sadly, the programme had to be truncated for some boys. During the first round, high winds meant that the north-bound group could not summit Camp Saddle, so the boys undertook a smaller tramp on day two, near Helicopter Hill. The second group experienced the full overnight programme. The third group had to be evacuated early on the second day because of the Bridge Hill fire. Thirteen boys and five staff headed home via Lewis Pass as the fire closed the road before they could be taken to buses at Cave Stream. I want to thank College and Horizon
staff for acting quickly to ensure the safety of the boys. While the last group did not get the whole experience, they learnt more about risks and appreciated the need for safety management plans. It will be a lifelong learning experience. However, it was a good outdoor education experience and an opportunity to learn more about yourself and the power of nature. This includes finding unrealised strengths, with boys developing as leaders (and followers) and testing new limits. The Year 9 camps prepare boys for the Year 10 Immerse & Inspire Adventurous Journey. Many will now know what to take in their packs and what to leave behind. Navigation and cooking skills will also be improved, along with a respect for the power of fire.
The Year 10 programme to Boyle River is now well integrated into Immerse & Inspire. This year, the programme was again disrupted by Covid-19 and influenza, leading to rescheduling or restructuring for the week away. However, all boys wanting to gain their Bronze Adventurous Journey were able to do so. Thank you to the Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre for accommodating the necessary changes. They went above and beyond to make it all happen. The boys went to Boyle River as part of the four-week Immerse & Inspire programme. All Year 10 boys can be registered for the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award. They can fulfil the Adventurous Journey requirement by completing the week, including two nights out in the Boyle River area learning the camping and tramping skills they need for their own trip. They then returned to the base camp for group-based activities. The next day, they were given an area in the Lewis Pass so that they could plan a group tramp to complete the Adventurous Journey. This involved an overnight tramp to a campsite, and then returning to the Boyle River lodge to travel back to College. It was a demanding week, aiming to challenge the boys in the environment and develop their spirit of adventure and discovery. It was hoped that the boys would take this outdoor tramping experience to the next level by undertaking more trips into the wilderness. If boys complete their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award, they will reach the Silver level of the Community and Service and Discovery and Challenge sections of the College Diploma.
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