ACTIVITIES WEEK CAMP
18-22 AUGUST 2025
ARTS: DRAWING & PAINTING CAMP
July 2025
Dear Student and Parents/Guardians,
The Drawing & Painting Camp will take place at Woodleigh Senior Campus from Monday 18 August until Friday 22 August 2025.
This exciting, 5-day, hands-on program is the right mix of working on location, developing artworks in a studio and trying many new art materials. The drawing and painting journey will begin with the opportunity to complete field work, taking inspiration from plein-air artists. From this experience, students will then paint on-site and engage in creating using a series of watercolour mediums, shifting shapes, and pushing boundaries. Trying pastels, watercolour, charcoal, and oil painting to develop an understanding of technique and form. An exhibition of the week at the Elisabeth Murdoch Gallery will complete your drawing and painting journey.
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,
Leike Koren Drawing & Painting Camp Coordinator
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Our camp is being held on the lands of the Bunurong and Boonwurrung 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.
INFORMATION
CAMP DATES
Monday 18 August - Friday 22 August 2025.
MEDICATION ON CAMP
If you believe your child needs to take medication during the school day on camp, please contact the School Nurse before Monday 11 August.
COST
The cost of this Activities Week Camp is approximately $400, which will be charged to student accounts.
TRANSPORT & LOCATION
The camp is based at Woodleigh Senior Campus during normal school hours. Students to meet in the Art Room at 8.45am daily.
On Monday, students will be off-site travelling to Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery and The Studio and Co. On Tuesday, students will visit a natural location to work on-site, completing a series of starting points as drawings and paintings. On Wednesday, students will start their day onsite at Woodleigh, and then travel to the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery at 12pm and return back to school by 3.30pm.
MEALS
Students should plan to bring snacks and lunch on Monday - Thursday. The school canteen will be open in a limited capacity during the week.
On Friday, lunch will be provided for students on camps in the Visual Arts Centre.
ACTIVITIES
Students will work on drawing and painting techniques, working towards completing an extensive folio. Final paintings and drawings will be presented in the Elisabeth Murdoch Gallery on the final day. This opportunity to present artworks will be open for family and friends to visit.
CLOTHING/EQUIPMENT
All materials for the Drawing & Painting work are supplied. This includes drawing paper and drawing materials, pre-stretched and primed canvas, oil paints, palettes and brushes. Students are encouraged to bring any empty 500ml-1lt jars to be used for brushes and glazes. Paint will stain clothes and students are encouraged to wear inexpensive/non-precious attire. They may also choose to bring their own apron or old shirt to wear when in the studio.
Students may like to bring along a camera to document the process. Students should wear clothing that is suitable for working with paint.
MOBILE PHONES
A reminder that the Woodleigh School Mobile Phone policy will be in effect throughout the week.
Mobile phones may be brought each day for the purpose of contacting parents regarding arrival times back at school. They may be required to photograph your work but will not be required for any other purpose during the week.
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.
• Inclusive and safe learning environment for all.
• A good night’s sleep will be essential - being tired will not only affect you but also others on camp.
• Never leave school grounds/off-site venue 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.
DRAWING & PAINTING PROGRAM
Day Starts at 8:50am and Concludes at 3:45pm. Recess 10:30-10:50am / Lunchtime 12:30-1:30pm
DAY PROGRAM
Monday
Tuesday
• Meet at Art Studio Introduction and Orientation
• Health and Safety in Oil Painting
• Technique focus: Drawing from observation (life drawing session) Complete drawings
• Surface Preparation
Day 1 - Studio-based Day, exploring ideas and mediums
Students will use their sketchbooks to record a series of compositions as they work across different locations. Students will use various wet and dry mediums. After introductions, students will visit the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery and The Studio and Co. for inspiration for sketching.
• Introduction and demonstration
• Technique focus: Blocking in and underpainting techniques
• Introduction to colour palette and colour studies
• Caring for brushes
Day 2 - Field Work
Students will work across the school to produce a collection of drawings linked to the space. They will consider place, connection, and history. Back in the studio, students will expand their compositions through the investigation of watercolour, line, wash, pencil, and charcoal drawing. Students will investigate the use of Kwik Ink and pipettes.
• Introduction and demonstration
• Technique focus: Tonal Ranges
• Colour studies
• Introduction to Glazing in painting
Wednesday
Thursday
Day 3 - Developing work through Still Life
Students will work on a large-scale drawing using charcoal and mixed media. This will be an opportunity to explore the potential of various mediums and to experiment with concepts relating to the information gathered during their field day work. Students will consider various ways of presenting their work looking at art movements in art history. In the afternoon, students will visit the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, and take a trip to a natural location for sketching inspiration.
• Introduction and demonstration
• Technique focus: Glazing in painting
• Continue underpainting and glazing techniques
Day 4 - Using Colour
Students will work with pastel or oil paint to produce several paintings. Students can either explore ideas from field work or introduce a large still life to work from.
Friday
• Painting and adding glaze
• Finalising of artworks
• Photograph Artwork
Day 5 - Refine and Present
Students will use this day to refine and complete their series of drawings and paintings, finally presenting their work in the Elisabeth Murdoch Gallery.
Please note: These times and/or activities could be subject to change.
