Outdoor & Environmental Studies Program Guide
Year 10 Murray Journey Program Overview
Welcome to the Year 10 Murray River Canoe Journey . Over three days, students will travel with the slow meander of the Murray River – canoeing throughout the days and camping beside the river at night Students have been studying a unit on inland waterways and the many conflicting uses through canoeing on the Barwon River. The Murray Darling Basin being one of the most important agricultural areas in Australia is a much larger example worthy of study. The Murray River itself is a fantastic place to recreate and to further study these issues. This program provides students with fantastic opportunities to make connections between theory learnt in class and first-hand experience which will be referred to throughout the term. This program is the culmination of many skills learnt throughout the year and is direct preparation for our VCE OES programs.
Aims & Learning Objectives
Develop students’ competency in expedition canoeing. Including safe paddling technique, efficient packing of equipment into canoes, and effective management of gear throughout a multi-day journey.
Strengthen outdoor living and self-sufficiency skills, Foster environmental stewardship. Focus on setting up camps, preparing all meals using Trangias, managing food and fuel, and minimal impact strategies. Encouraging students to apply Leave No Trace principles, minimise their impact, and recognise their role in preserving the river environment for future generations.
Build group cohesion and individual independence. Encouraging students to take responsibility for their equipment, decision-making, personal organisation, and contributions to the travelling camp community.
Deepen understanding of the Murray River’s environmental significance. Its unique ecosystems, native species, and current environmental challenges.
Develop an appreciation of the cultural and historical importance of the Murray. Exploring First Nations perspectives, early river-use and settlement history
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Senior School in the morning and drive to Scotts Beach, Cobram (start point on the river), stopping along the way for breaks. Paddle to camp at Big Toms Beach.
Day 2: Paddle from Big Toms Beach to Bouchiers Beach, admiring the towering River Red Gums on the riverbank and stopping along the way for lunch
Day 3: Paddle from Bouchiers beach to the bus at Finley Beach. Have lunch in Numerkah - a small country town - before the big drive back to Senior School, stopping along the way for breaks and food.
TheJourney…
TheCampsite
Year 10 Arapiles – Optional Climbing Program Overview
Welcome to the Year 10 Arapiles/Djurite climbing program. Over three days, students have the opportunity to climb the ancient metasedimentary sea cliffs of Arapiles – named Djurite by the Wotjobaluk people, then Arapiles after European settlement. The focus of this program is for students to understand the concept of risk, and how taking appropriate risks can extend them physically and socially. This program provides students with opportunities to make connections between theory learnt in class and first-hand experience which will be referred to throughout the term.
Itinerary
Day 1: Leave Senior School in the morning and drive to Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park, stopping along the way for food and toilet break. Set up camp upon arrival, then meet guides and enjoy introductory top-rope climbing for the afternoon.
Day 2: Multi-pitch climbs all day.
Day 3: Go for a bushwalk to the top of Mt Arapiles, pack up camp and drive back to Senior School – stopping along the way for food and toilet breaks.
TheClimbs…
Year 11 Gariwerd/Grampians Bushwalk Program Overview
Welcome to the Year 11 Gariwerd bushwalk. Over three days, students will travel through the ancient, rocky landscape of Gariwerd which was an ancient seabed that uplifted over 400 million years ago. Students engage with the rich ecosystems whilst walking and living outdoors, focusing on personal responses and access to outdoor environments, environmental sustainability, and safety in the outdoors. This program provides students with opportunities to make connections between theory learnt in class and first-hand experience which will be referred to throughout the term.
Aims & Learning Objectives
Collection of primary data
Students to explain factors that influence personal responses and access to outdoor environments.
Safe Participation
Demonstrate an understanding of how to plan and conduct sustainable outdoor experiences involving minimum impact strategies for individuals, route and menu planning, first aid management, navigation, clothing selection, and packing a pack.
Understanding and appreciation for one of Victoria premier national parks
Make connections between personal actions and environmental sustainability with reflections on unique characteristics.
Emotional Growth & Personal Development
Build self-confidence, resilience and self-esteem by engaging with challenges and stepping outside personal comfort zones during activities.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Senior School in the morning and drive to Grampians National Park, stopping along the way for food and toilet breaks. Begin hiking at Troopers Creek, camp at Gar.
Day 2: Walk from Gar to Werdug campsite.
Day 3: Walk from Werdug to the bus in Halls Gap. Have lunch then drive back to Senior School, stopping for breaks along the way.
TheJourney…
TheCampsite…
Year 11 Otways Program Overview
Welcome to the Year 11 Otway National Park program. Over three days, groups will travel from the luscious temperate rainforests of the Otway National Park to the rugged coastline adjacent to the Great Ocean Road. Students engage with the rich ecosystems, and colonial and Indigenous histories of the area through surfing, mountain bike riding, walking, and simply living in the outdoors. This program provides students with opportunities to make connections between theory learnt in class and first-hand experience which will be referred to throughout the term.
Aims & Learning Objectives
Environmental understanding
Observe key features of temperate rainforest, coastal, and heathland ecosystems, and the impacts that humans have on them.
Personal Motivations & Responses to Outdoor Experiences
Participate in mountain biking, surfing, bushwalking, and campcraft to assist in the analysis of their own personal motivations for engaging with outdoor environments.
Applied Risk Management & Safety Awareness
Develop an applied understanding of risk management & specific mitigation strategies relating to mountain biking, surfing, hiking, and outdoor cooking.
Personal Development & Emotional Growth
Experience personal growth by strengthening cooperation, teamwork, and interpersonal skills as they navigate how to positively contribute to group culture.
Environmental Stewardship & Responsible Behaviour
Reflect on how experiencing natural environments firsthand can influence future attitudes, behaviours, and advocacy for outdoor places.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Senior School in the morning and drive to Forrest Caravan Park, set up camp. Go for a sunset walk around Lake Elizabeth and cook dinner by the lake.
Day 2: Mountain Bike riding on trails in Forrest for the day, then drive to Kennet River. Set up camp, go for a beach walk or swim before dinner.
Day 3: Surf somewhere along the Great Ocean Road. Drive back to Senior School.
TheJourney…
Year 12 Bogong High Plains Bushwalk Program Overview
Welcome to the Year 12 Alpine National Park bushwalk. Over four days, students will travel through the spectacular Bogong High Plains – descending into deep valleys and taking-in views at some of the highest points in Victoria. Students are studying how human relationships with outdoor environments have changed over time in the Alpine National Park. With particular focus on the various ways that Indigenous groups and Early colonisers interacted with the Alpine environments, as well as the impacts on these relationships pre/post- Federation. This program provides students with fantastic opportunities to make connections between theory learnt in class and first-hand experience which will be referred to throughout the term. Students are required to keep a logbook of their experiences and specific examples of curriculum learning from the places they visit. This will need to be a key focus for them in addition to the demands of living and travelling in the mountains.
Aims & Learning Objectives
Investigate Changing Relationships with the Alpine Environment
Students will explore how different groups have understood, used and valued the Bogong High Plains over time and identify how relationships with the environment have changed.
Examine Indigenous Knowledge and Connection to Country
Students will develop an understanding of the long-standing and sustainable relationship Indigenous peoples have maintained with the alpine environment.
Analyse the Impacts of Human Activities on Outdoor Environments
Students will investigate how historical and contemporary human activities have shaped the environmental, social and cultural characteristics of the Bogong High Plains.
Develop Personal Connections and Critical Reflection in Outdoor Environments
Students will reflect on their own experiences in the alpine environment and consider how contemporary Australians relate to and value outdoor environments
Itinerary
Day 1: Leave Senior School by 4pm and drive to Myrtleford, stopping for dinner along the way.
Day 2: Visit the Mount Beauty Info Centre, then drive up the mountain to the starting point and walk to camp at Tawonga Huts
Day 3: Walk from Tawonga Huts to Dibbins Hut
Day 4: Walk from Dibbins Hut to Blair Hut
Day 5: Walk from Blair Hut back to the bus, drive home.
TheCampsite
TheJourney…
Year 12 Bogong High Plains Ski Program Overview
Welcome to the Year 12 Winter Alpine Ski Program, set in the stunning Falls Creek Alpine Resort in northeastern Victoria. The program includes an overnight ski expedition to Watchbed Creek, located just beyond the resort, as well as one day of downhill skiing within Falls Creek itself. Having previously hiked across the Bogong High Plains in Term 1, students will revisit this familiar environment, now transformed by winter conditions. Over four days, students will collect and analyse real-world examples to support concepts explored in class. These learnings will be revisited and expanded upon throughout the term, reinforcing both practical skills and environmental understanding.
Aims & Learning Objectives
Investigate Strategies for Maintaining Healthy Outdoor Environments Students will examine and evaluate Indigenous and non-Indigenous land management strategies that contribute to the health and sustainability of the Bogong High Plains alpine environment.
Explore the Role of Government Policy and Legislation in Environmental Protection Students will develop an understanding of how government legislation and regulatory frameworks contribute to the protection and management of outdoor environments. Evaluate the Contribution of Community and Individual Actions to Sustainability Students will investigate how individuals and community organisations contribute to the protection and sustainability of outdoor environments.
Develop Critical Reflection and Evidence-Based Understanding Through Field Experience Students will use their experiences travelling, camping and skiing in the alpine environment to consolidate Unit 4 knowledge and review key concepts from the entire OES course.
Itinerary
Day 1: Leave Senior School at lunchtime, stopping for dinner in Myrtleford. Arrive at Tawonga accommodation.
Day 2: Collect cross-country ski’s the drive up the mountain to Falls Creek. Revise ski skills in the Nordic Bowl, then ski over the dam wall to camp at Watchbed Creek. Camp out in the snow.
Day 3: Morning adventure on the Bogong High Plains. Options include skiing to Mt Nelse, tour of Heathy Spur, or Edmondson’s Hut (depending on weather conditions). Ski back to the resort after lunch, then drive back to Tawonga accommodation.
Day 4: Collect downhill skis then drive up to Falls Creek. Morning downhill ski lesson, then free ski for the day. Begin drive back to Senior School in the afternoon, stopping along the way for dinner.
TheJourney…
TheCampsite…
PERSONAL ORGANISATION
Sample Equipment List
3.2 Sample Food Planning
