Fintona | Beyond the Classroom

What our parents say about Fintona?

Small size of school gives girls the opportunity to mix with all year levels.

Outdoor Education

Extending student horizons

Each year, all students from Years 1 to 10 participate in a unique yet structured Outdoor Education program. The camps aim to extend students outside their comfort zone by placing them in environments different from their everyday life. Each camp is sequential so that students have the opportunity to build on the skills they learned in the previous year.

The Outdoor Education experience begins in Year 1 with an overnight stay and by Year 7 students progress to a week-long camp. In Years 8 and 9 students experience an expedition style camp program and they are given the opportunity to participate in mountain biking, abseiling, team challenges, cooking in the bush, canoeing and hiking. These activities promote personal development, team work, and environmental awareness as well as fun and safety in the outdoors.

One of the highlights for students at Fintona is the Year 10 student exchange program, where all students in Year 10 travel to Tasmania to spend a week building links with our sister school, Fahan Girls' School, in Hobart. The girls participate in camping, bushwalking and uncovering some of Tasmania's beautiful surroundings, travel to the Historic Port Arthur site, raft on the Derwent River and stay with host families in Hobart.

Aims and Objectives

	To provide an enjoyable learning experience which promotes aspects of personal development such as self-esteem, resourcefulness, independence, leadership, co-operation, tolerance and determination.
	To acquire skills and knowledge in outdoor education that can lead to lifelong involvement in leisure activities in the outdoors.
	To increase student knowledge and awareness of the environment, which can lead to willingness to take responsible action to protect it.
	To increase awareness of the place of humans in the natural world, emphasising inter-relationships with natural systems.
	To provide opportunities to improve effective communication and group practices.

Outdoor Education program by Year Level

	Year 1	Students participate in an overnight stay at a beach house. Activities revolve around beach play.
	Year 2	Students participate in a two night stay at a beach house. Activities revolve around beach play.
	Years 3 and 4	Sites alternate between Bacchus Marsh and Wandin. Bush activities are the main focus of the two night camps.
	Year 5	Students travel by train to Ballarat and from there go to ‘Naringal', a working sheep station, where they spend four days learning about the production of fine wool. They also experience the history of a Western District farming family.
	Year 6	Phillip Island is the venue of a five day camp at the YMCA Coastal Discovery Centre at YCW beach. The program includes marine studies, sand sculpting, archery, a visit to the Penguin Parade and body boarding.
	Year 7	Students participate in a weeklong camp at Valley Homestead, Ovens, near Mt Buffalo. The primary aim of the experience is for girls to work co-operatively as a complete Year 7 unit.
	Year 8	The Strathbogie Outdoor Centre, Mansfield, is home for a week as students participate in activities such as abseiling, rafting, hiking and night navigation.
	Year 9	In Year 9 students travel to the Otway Ranges where they participate in an expedition style five day program. Students challenge themselves through adventure and team activities as they canoe, camp, bushwalk and mountain bike ride through a variety of environments.
	Year 10	All Year 10 students travel to Tasmania to build links with our sister school Fahan Girls School in Hobart. Students stay with host families while completing a range of activities including discovering the secrets of the Port Arthur Historical Site, rafting in Hobart, and camping and bushwalking at Mount Field.
	Year 11	Outdoor Education becomes optional at Year 11 when girls can choose to participate in the Lord Somers Camp.