During our whole school Term 4 assembly this week, we had a number of students share their experiences in Outdoor Education this year.
Year 10 student Letiya, provided an update about some of the amazing opportunities she and her peers have had this year to step outside of the classroom and into nature. This has included surfing, rock climbing at Mt Arapiles, hiking through rugged trails around Mt Sumaria, and even braving downhill skiing, mountain biking, canoeing, and white-water rafting. Each camp was a new adventure and pushed students to face new challenges.
Letiya said one of the biggest things students learnt was how to work as a team.
“Out in the environment, you really need each other. Whether we were spotting each other while rock climbing or paddling together in a canoe, teamwork has been essential,” she said.
“We had to communicate well, rely on each other's strengths, and support each other, especially when things got tough, or the weather didn’t go our way. Working together in these real situations has given us experiences that go beyond what we learn in class.”
Year 9 students Cruz and Brendan spoke about how Outdoor Ed has taught them about the power of collaboration and problem-solving.
“Sometimes things didn’t go as planned. We faced problems like figuring out how to stay warm when camping in the mountains, navigating trails when we weren't sure which way to go, or figuring out how to paddle against a strong river current,” he said.
“We had to come up with creative solutions on the spot and work together to make decisions.”
Cruz added that these experiences taught students how to trust each other, listen to everyone’s ideas, and look for ways to solve problems without giving up.
“Learning to solve problems outdoors has helped us build resilience, and it’s made us more confident. Plus, it was really rewarding to see our teamwork pay off, whether we reached the top of a mountain or safely navigated through rapids,” he said.
“We’ve also built strong connections with each other and deepened our understanding of the different natural environments around Victoria. Each place taught us something new, and we’ve gained a lot of respect for the environments we visited.”
Year 11 student Abbey Bennett reflected on the skills students learned.
“Skills like leadership, responsibility, patience, and resilience are things that will help us, not just in school but in life,” she said.
“Working as a team has shown us how to communicate better and respect each other’s ideas, which will be important in any career or community we’re part of.
“Outdoor Education has taught us how to connect with each other and with nature, reminding us of the importance of preserving these beautiful environments. The friendships and memories we’ve made are things we’ll never forget. Thank you to all the teachers and staff who made these experiences possible. We’re grateful for the adventures, the challenges, and the life lessons we’ve learned along the way. We can’t wait to see what future Outdoor Ed students will experience and discover.”
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