Co-curricular Program

Outdoor Education

Year 9 Outdoor Education

This elective subject allows students to challenge themselves: physically, socially and emotionally. This is achieved through a challenge-by-choice ethos whereby students can choose to examine their personal limitations as much as they see fit. The more they challenge themselves, the greater the rewards.

This is achieved by undertaking a number of topics (both theoretical & practical) that place the students in unfamiliar surroundings, situations, company and feelings.

Practical activities include: first aid (basic), trust activities, personal identity examinations, Indoor rock climbing, low ropes challenges, initiative games, mountain biking, bushwalking, bush-cooking, archery, and orienteering.

Students also examine some environmental issues faced by Australians at a local, state and national level.

We want to appreciate what the outdoors has to offer.

Aims & Objectives:

• to improve the self-esteem of students by allowing them to experience success in non-competitive activity, both as an individual and as a member of a team
• to develop the ability of students to work in groups and adapt to the various roles within those groups
• to expose students to activities other than the traditional competitive sports
• to heighten students’ awareness as to the plight of the international, national and local environments
• to challenge students physically, socially and emotionally, thus enabling them to better understand their own capabilities and those of others
• to develop initiative skills and problem-solving abilities of students through game and role-play situations
• to improve communication skills of students, whether they be verbal or otherwise
• to encourage enjoyable and safe and responsible participation in the outdoors

VCE: Units 1 & 2 Outdoor & Environmental Studies

UNIT 1: UNDERSTANDING OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES

This unit examines the ways in which humans understand and relate to nature in the context of outdoor environments. It focuses on human nature relationships, different understandings of nature and different types of outdoor environments. It also develops an understanding of nature through practical experiences and investigation of particular outdoor environments.

Areas of Study:

• Motivations for Outdoor Experience
• Humans & Nature

UNIT 2: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

This unit focuses on human-related impacts on natural environments at local, regional and state levels. It includes historical and contemporary analyses of human conceptions of nature and human interactions with nature, including nature’s impact on humans. Outdoor recreation provides the major focus for studying this impact, as well as the ecological, social and economic implications of human impact on the environment. The unit also provides an opportunity to evaluate state and local conservation policies and environmental legislation.

Areas of Study:

• Discovering Natural Environments
• Impact on Nature

PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES:

• 20 hours of practical/field work per semester/unit. (approx. 6 days)
• 3 x day trips and 1 x three-day camp
• Used to access the environments under theoretical investigation and will include the following:
  
  • Mountain Biking
  • Bushwalking
  • Surfing
  • Snorkelling
  • Caving
  • Nordic/Alpine Skiing
  • Rock Climbing