3 APRIL 2026
Thursday 09/04/2026
TAKING LEARNING TO THE COAST Class 9 students from Samford Valley Steiner School stepped out of the classroom and onto the coastline recently for a five-day walking journey along the North Coast of New South Wales. Students travelled through Yuraygir National Park, one of the longest stretches of undeveloped coastline in the state. Divided into two groups, one class hiked northbound while the other hiked southbound, meeting midweek at Sandon Beach to share stories and rest together before continuing their journey. The walk is part of Samford Steiner’s outdoor education program and is designed to complement what students are studying in the classroom. During the journey, students explored themes from their current Main Lessons in Australian History and Plant Chemistry while experiencing the landscape firsthand. Walking through the coastal environment gave students the opportunity to observe plant life, consider how people have interacted with the land over time, and reflect on the unique ecology of the region, bringing their classroom learning into sharper focus. The walk also took place on Yaegl Country, offering students a chance to deepen their awareness of place and the
cultural and natural history of the area. For adolescents in Class 9, this kind of experience plays an important role in their development. At around 14 and 15 years of age, students are beginning to seek independence and test their abilities. Multi-day outdoor journeys give them the chance to take responsibility, support one another and develop resilience in a realworld setting. Throughout the week, students carried their own gear, navigated changing weather conditions, prepared meals together, and worked as a team to complete the journey.
Along the way, they practiced observation, cooperation and problem solving, while strengthening friendships and building confidence. Research into Steiner education supports the value of these kinds of experiences. A recent international review of Steiner practices led by education researchers Bill Lucas and Ellen Spencer found that experiential, interdisciplinary and movement-based learning can play a key role in helping young people develop important capabilities such as curiosity, reflection, collaboration and decision making. Outdoor journeys like this are part of a broader program at Samford Valley Steiner School. From Class 3 through to Class 12, students spend close to 100 days learning through outdoor expeditions just like this one. This Class 9 coastal walk makes up just five of those days, forming one step in a long pathway of experiential learning. For Class 9 students who completed the journey, the five-day walk offered more than time on the trail. It was an opportunity to connect with the landscape, deepen their learning, and experience the satisfaction that comes from completing a shared challenge together.