News
21 September 2023
Camps aim to extend students outside their comfort zone by placing them in environments different from those that they experience in everyday life.
Each camp builds on the skills students learned in the previous year as well as those taught implicitly at Fintona.
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, 9 and 10, 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, teamwork, and environmental awareness as well as fun and safety in the outdoors.
| Aims and Objectives |
|---|
| To provide an enjoyable learning experience which promotes aspects of personal development such as self-esteem, resourcefulness, independence, leadership, co-operation, respect 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. |
Programs by Year Level
Each year, all students from Years 1 to 10 participate in a unique Outdoor Education program.
Students participate in an overnight stay at Lady Northcote YMCA Camp, Glenmore. Activities revolve around orienteering and physical adventures that build teamwork and social skills.
In line with their current Unit of Inquiry, students in Year 2 spend a night at Camp Manyung in Mt Eliza. During their stay, students inquire into the benefits of making balanced lifestyle choices and the importance of physical activity. Activities revolve around the beach environment.
Sites alternate between Camp Sunnystones, Bacchus Marsh and Gundiwindi Lodge, Wandin. Bush activities are the main focus of the two night camps.
Students travel to Coonawarra Farm resort located near Bairnsdale in South East Gippsland. During their four day stay, students participate in a wide variety of outdoor activities, including canoeing, raft making, rope courses and initiatives tasks.
Year 6 sees our students enjoy a three day beach experience at Waratah Beach Camp. Students challenge themselves by participating in activities such as surfing, body boarding and orienteering. The students explore their new environment and learn about the marine life.
During their first days of Year 7, students spend a day at Westerfolds Park in Templestowe. They participate in a range of activities including cycling, canoeing, navigation and initiatives. The focus of this day is to assist with the transition to Year 7 by developing communication, team work and co-operation. Additionally, all students attend the unique Central Australia Trip.
In Year 8, students explore the surrounds of Gembrook participating in low impact activities, exploring the local surrounds of Gembrook and looking at both historical and natural sites. Students stay in a combination of both cabin and tent accommodation and take responsibility for meal preparation when camping off sight.
In Year 9, students participate in a number of sustainable outdoor adventure activities including surfing, hiking and tree planting in the Otways. They experience a week of tent accommodation, and work in small groups to prepare meals and navigate hikes.
The Year 10 camp is culmination of all Outdoor Education experiences at Fintona. Students participate in an expedition throughout the northern Grampians region, applying skills learnt on pervious camps to sustainably navigate their group through the 5-day course which includes hiking, mountain bike riding and rock climbing.
