18-22 AUGUST 2025
ADVENTURE LEADERSHIP
July 2025
Dear Student and Parents/Guardians,
The Adventure Leadership Camp is an overnight camp that will be held from Monday 18 – Friday 22 August at Clifford Park Activity Centre, Clifford Park Drive, Wonga Park.
Parents/Guardians, please respond to the Operoo eForm and ensure that your child’s medical information is up to date.
In this booklet you will find further information regarding the camp so please read through this carefully.
If there are any further queries you may have, please do not hesitate to contact me. We look forward to a fun and rewarding week!
Yours sincerely,
Mr John Beckley
Adventure Leadership Camp Coordinator
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Our camp is being held on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people and we wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We are grateful to be visiting their land and we recognise their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this land.
POLICY RELATING TO STUDENTS WITHDRAWING FROM ACTIVITIES WEEK CAMP/ABSENTEE CHARGEBACK POST CAMP
Activities Week Camp is a compulsory part of the school curriculum and all students are expected to participate. Bookings and arrangements are made on this expectation.
In the event that a student withdraws from the camp due to medical reasons, the school requires prior written notice accompanied by a valid medical certificate. In such cases, families will be responsible for all non-refundable costs incurred, including but not limited to flights, accommodation, and other pre-paid expenses.
For cancellations due to a change of mind or any non-medical reasons, families will be charged the full camp fee.
SUNSMART POLICY
In keeping with the school’s “SunSmart” approach to outdoor activities, students are required to bring sunscreen, a protective hat (with a wide brim) and to wear tops which adequately cover the skin of the shoulders and back. In the event of swimming activities, students will need “rashies” or t-shirts. Sunscreen is an additional protection - it does not take the place of clothing or shade.
NUT POLICY
On Camp, we request that parents/students avoid bringing food products that contain nuts of any kind. In order to minimise the risk to students with severe allergies.
The school cannot guarantee that the camp environment will be 100% allergen free, hence students with allergies need to remain vigilant in their decisions around any food that they ingest.
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CONTACT
In the event of an emergency, or if you need to urgently contact your child, please do not ring the camp (or your child) directly but rather contact the school during office hours on (03) 5971 6100 or contact after hours on mobile 0482 888 022
RESPOND TO OPEROO EFORM
To enable staff to fulfil their duty of care to students, we need accurate and up-to-date information about medical and personal issues for all students. Please respond to the Operoo eForm and ensure that your child’s medical information is up to date. Any last-minute changes should be communicated directly to the leader of the camp as well as updated on Operoo. We do rely on this information, and parents do have a duty of disclosure, to ensure all relevant information is known.
INFORMATION COLLECTION POLICY
Confidential medical and other sensitive information collected and used for the running of these camps will be handled in line with the School’s Privacy Policy.
POLICY RELATING TO STUDENTS SENT HOME FROM CAMP
Where a student does need to be sent home, for medical, personal, or discipline reasons, they will need to be collected from the camp by their parent/guardian (at their own expense) - they cannot travel unaccompanied. In all cases, arrangements must be made with school and special arrangements may need to be in place for remote camps, i.e. 3 or more hours from school.
EXTREME WEATHER POLICY
We will modify our program based on weather forecasts - we will be in contact with Woodleigh School to review the week’s weather as it unfolds. In the event of a day being forecast to be Extreme (under the CFA Fire Danger Rating system) the program will be modified at the least, to ensure safety in the heat, and evacuation plans in readiness. In the event of a day being forecast to be Code Red (Catastrophic), the program will be cancelled in advance and students evacuated the day before. The School will use SMS and email to communicate with parents in such cases.
ADVENTURE LEADERSHIP CAMP INFORMATION
CAMP DATES
Monday 18 August until Friday 22 August 2025.
MEDICATION ON CAMP
Any students taking prescription medication on camp will need to provide all medication (in original packaging) to school by no later than Tuesday 12 August 2025. You can drop off the medication to reception or the First Aid Centre anytime between 8am-4.30pm. Before handing in your child's prescription medication, you are required to answer all the questions within the Operoo e-Form.
COST
The cost of this Activities Week Camp is approximately $820 which will be charged to student accounts. This cost includes accommodation and the full Adventure Hub program.
TRANSPORT
The group will be travelling by Rosa bus, which will be driven by Woodleigh staff.
Departure: Students to arrive at Woodleigh at 9.00am on Monday 18 August, meeting at the main carpark (exit side) to load gear. Please refer to the bus location map at the end of this booklet. We will be leaving Woodleigh by bus at 9.30am, so please be on time.
Return: Students will return to Woodleigh by approximately 4pm on Friday 22 August.
LOCATION
The camp will be based at Clifford Park Activity Centre, 5-7 Clifford Dr, Wonga Park for all activities.
ACCOMMODATION
The camp accommodation for the week will be at Clifford Park Activity Centre, and students will sleep in cabin accommodation with rooms of 4-6 beds.
MEALS
On Monday 18 August, students must bring packed lunch & snacks.
Dietary requirements will be catered for at all meals.
Breakfast:
Will be provided daily.
Lunch:
Students must bring a packed lunch and snacks for departure day. For the rest of the week, a packed lunch and snacks are provided –students will collect these in the morning and take with them to daily activity location.
Dinner:
Nightly dinners are included in the cost of the camp and will be cooked by students/staff at the camp shelter.
ACTIVITIES
Monday
• Leadership skills and Obstacle Course onsite at Clifford Park
Leadership Skills Part A (Challenge Valley) – This fun adventure obstacle course has twenty-four low challenge elements set out along a kilometre of track winding through the bush. Challenge Valley is a popular feature with groups for promoting personal initiative and team building. The course is based at Clifford Park.
Leadership Skills Part B (The Mission) – This program consists of a series of team initiative-based activity stations that groups rotate through. It includes full activity briefing and debriefing discussions with groups as it has a strong emphasis on creating specific learning outcomes based on the student’s needs. This session is run at Clifford Park Camp.
Tuesday
• Morning - Conservation, Sustainability and Survival
This is an educational, thought-provoking fun program set amidst a natural setting.
Students will be introduced to the natural surroundings at our campsite and discuss the relationships of the various flora and fauna. We will delve into our (human) relationships with nature, how it has changed and the effects this is having on our current world. We then group students into activities that explore what acts of conservation and sustainability could improve our world from an everyday perspective. We then move on to some survival activities, as well as some basic First Aid in the bush. These activities will engage and challenge students to think beyond their everyday and call upon the ideas of their peers to survive.
• Afternoon - River Skills.
The aim of the Open Water Survival program is to increase the knowledge and awareness of the participants in a moving water / river environment. It will aid in helping to prepare the students for other outdoor recreation and water-based activities they will encounter during their lives. The three modules delivered are; ‘Urban and Environmental Water Hazards’, ‘River Crossings’ and ‘Safely Swimming in Flowing Water and Performing Basic Rescues’.
Wednesday
• Morning - Caving.
This favourite activity is a way to share the wonder of Victoria’s Britannia Creek boulder caves. Our guides will reveal an enchanting world of iridescent glow worms and cave crickets. Heading along with a helmet and head-torch, students will explore a labyrinth of secret passages whilst challenging themselves through the famous ‘Ninja’, ‘Cork Screw’, ‘Rebirth’, ‘Superman’ and the ‘Super Fun Happy Slide’! Along the way they will face challenges that require concentrated team work and at times will be able to stand all together as a group in a cave room. But, for much of the time they will be using their bodies to navigate the passages by crawling, sliding, wriggling, climbing and physically supporting each other.
• Afternoon – Environmental program on Mount Donna Buang. At an elevation of 1245mt, students will head up to the Mount Donna Buang summit and climb the tower which offers panoramic views of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, Cathedral Ranges, Mt Baw Baw and the Alps. While on the mountain students will also take in the rainforest experience by walking through the tree tops of the spectacular Rainforest Gallery, amongst 65-meter-tall Mountain Ash trees & ancient Myrtle Beech trees at 400 years old. Discussion of the environmental threats that face this area will be discussed, encouraging students to think about their everyday choices and what they can do to improve the future of their environment.
Thursday
• Morning - White Water Kayaking.
This is a favourite activity for groups as they partner up and learn the skills required to lead an inflatable open water kayak down the grade 1 & 2 rapids of the Yarra River. Students will travel through a stunning section of river, which holds a very important part of Melbourne history both for the Aboriginal culture and European settlers in relation to the Gold Rush era.
• Afternoon - Rock Climb / Abseil.
Whipstick Gully in Warrandyte is a great outdoor venue for rock climbing and abseiling as it allows students to work on several different climbing lines as well as an abseil on one rock face. These short climbs are quite challenging which will give the students an opportunity to develop their skills. The abseil is mentally very challenging where students need to take control as they lower themselves down the cliff.
Friday
• Hiking at Mount Lofty, Warrandyte State Park. This hike is a gradual ascent to the top with spectacular views to parts of Lilydale, surrounding areas of Warrandyte and Mount Dandenong. It takes approximately 2.5 hours, is a 5.5km partial circuit and is graded as ‘easy’. The hike includes a few stops along the way for discussion on the history of the area with Indigenous Australians, environmental aspects and some possible wildlife spotting.
CLOTHING/EQUIPMENT
Activity Specific Items
• Bathers x2.
• Shorts and T-shirt (longer pants if it is cold).
• Footwear. These will get wet to be used for Challenge Valley, both water activities and Caving, they need to be secure and not come off in water e.g. Old pair of runners, booties, sandals. Strictly no thongs.
• Runners - for other land based activites.
• Long pants (to cover their knees getting scratched on the rocks).
• Woollen socks (bring a few extra pairs just incase they get wet).
• Woollen or fleece jumper to wear over your wetsuit.
• Old clothes that cover full length of arms and legs, overalls are good.
• Garbage bags for wet gear.
General Items
• Day 1 - Lunch and Snacks.
• Day Pack (min 20 ltr – max 35 ltr) - A school bag will do, if that is all you have access to.
• Large Bag – backpack/rucksack/duffle bag (for carrying clothing and personal items).
• Sleeping Bag with hood.
• Pillow & Pillow Case
• Shoes – different from your river shoes, ones that will be kept dry for the entire camp.
• Water Proof Rain Jacket – must have a hood and be 100% waterproof, including sealed seams. Spray jackets are not suitable.
• Thermal Top x1 and Thermal Bottom x1 – for camp use and sleeping only - could be a fleecy tracksuit pant).
• Fleece Jacket/woollen jumper.
• Head Torch – ensure it has new batteries.
• Warm Socks x7 – This will be an extra pair for around the camp.
• Underwear x ten (10) pairs – includes extra for water-based activities.
• Beanie – for use around camp and in evenings.
• Wide brimmed hat.
• Pants – Full length & comfortable.
• Gloves – for use around the camp and in evenings (fleece or wool).
• Water Bottle x2.
• Sunscreen - Water Resistant is preferred.
• Shorts (extra ones not used for water activity).
• Toiletries.
• Garbage bags – for storing dirty clothes and wet items.
• Basic First Aid Kit.
• Towel x2 – one for showing at camp, one for after activities.
• T-shirt x 5.
Optional Items
• Sleeping bag Liner – to add warmth and keep the sleeping bag clean.
• Gloves – for water activities
• Skins
• Sunglasses – not the expensive kind, with a cord attached if using in water activities.
• Extra Shoes – comfortable casual wear shoes for around the camp.
• Blister Kit
• Pen/Notebook
• Scarf
• Lip Balm/Zinc
• Wetsuit – for water activities
• Waterproof camera – it is your responsibility to take care of this, so brought at own risk.
• Insect Repellent
DO NOT BRING
Valuables, cameras or any items that you wouldn't want to lose or break, an excessive amount of money or lollies, any electronic/digital devices (including laptops, tablets, games consoles, iPads, etc.)
Suggested Items: Group games (card/board), small musical instrument.
MOBILE PHONES
Mobile phones must be left at home and not brought on camp. They will not be required. Any phone that is found at camp will be collected and returned at the end of camp. All care will be taken, however no responsibility will be accepted for confiscated phones, so it's best to leave them at home.
RISK
There are elements of risk involved in this camp and whilst safety ratios and requirements will be adhered to, we believe it is important to make you aware of potential risks. These risks include but are not limited to:
• Exposure to cold weather, water and extreme temperatures
• Soft tissue injuries
• Getting lost.
• Drowning
In order to mitigate these risks:
• Students will be required to have the appropriate safety clothing and equipment (list provided in this booklet).
• The professional instructors at the various facilities visited are well regarded for their safety record, professionalism, and knowledge of the locations.
• Daily assessment of weather and conditions will dictate locations used.
• Staff will carry first aid kits and have first aid training.
BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS
• As a participant in the Activities Week Camps program, there is a high level of responsibility and expectation with respect to behaviour. All normal school policies apply, in particular:
• Involvement with sex, drugs, smoking, vaping or alcohol is prohibited.
• A preparedness to participate wherever appropriate.
• Safety of all participants is paramount.
Infringement of these policies may result in the student being sent home, at your own expense.
• It is a courtesy to be respectful and positive at all events, even those you personally find less interesting. A good night’s sleep will be essential - being tired will not only affect you but also others on camp.
• Never leave the campsite without the permission of a staff member.
• Each student is responsible for the immediate environment and must keep it tidy and not damage any of the surroundings.
• No-one is to enter anyone else's cabin before breakfast or after dark. You will only enter someone else's cabin if the people in that group are there, invite you in and you have obtained permission from a staff member.
Students will be rostered into groups to help with organisation which will include such things as setting out breakfast, lunch and washing up. There are also room and cleaning duties which will be performed every day during the camp along with maintaining individual equipment. Students will have some free time to rest, read and socialise in the Wombat Gully Shelter. We encourage every student to bring a board game or cards etc. to play with their peers during these down times.
Students are not permitted to eat or hang out in the bedrooms. The rooms are only for sleeping, dressing and showering. The days will be long and tiring and therefore some students may wish to go to sleep earlier. We are living in a close group with peers and staff, respecting each other’s privacy and being quiet in the cabins is of the upmost importance.
ADVENTURE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
DAY Morning Afternoon Evening
Monday 9 am
Arrive to school to load bus. Bring a packed lunch
9:30 am
Bus departs school 10:30 am
Arrive Clifford Park Activity Centre
1:30 – 4pm
Leadership skills and obstacle course 4pm - 6pm
Back to camp and free time 6pm onwards
Dinner & night activities
Tuesday
7am Breakfast 9am – 12pm Conservation, Sustainability and Survival
Wednesday 7am Breakfast 9am – 12pm Caving
12pm Lunch at camp 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm River skills 4pm - 6pm
Back to camp and free time 6pm onwards
Dinner & night activities
Thursday 7am Breakfast 9am – 12pm White Water Kayaking
12pm Lunch 1pm – 4pm
Environmental program on Mount Donna Buang
4pm - 6pm
Back to camp and free time 6pm onwards
Dinner & night activities
12pm Lunch 1pm – 4pm
Rock Climb and Abseil 4pm - 6pm
Back to camp and free time 6pm onwards
Dinner & night activities
Friday 9:30am
Leave accommodation 11am
Hike - Mount Lofty 2pm
Please note: These times and/or activities could be subject to change.
Return from Mount Lofty 2:30pm Depart Mount Lofty 4pm
Arrive back at school & depart for home.
BUS LOCATION - DEPART/RETURN
2025 ACTIVITIES WEEK CAMP BUS LOCATIONS
WOODLEIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR CAMPUS
Please make sure you refer to your camp booklet for departure and return dates and times.
Parents, please park in designated parking areas when dropping off/collecting your child to avoid congestion around the buses on Monday departures and Friday returns.
MY CAMP CHECKLIST
Things to purchase / Things to take
