AW2025 - Fishing Camp Booklet

18-22 AUGUST 2025

FISHING CAMP

July 2025

Dear Student and Parents/Guardians,

The Fishing Camp takes place around various fishing locations on Western Port Bay and Port Phillip Bay. We will travel by Rosa bus driven by staff, leaving Woodleigh each day at 8.45am from Monday 18 August to Friday 22 August 2025. We will leave from the main driveway (entrance side) and arrive back at school at approximately 3.45pm each day and 3pm on the Wednesday.

Our fishing will take place from calm shores and piers, based on the tides and conditions. These locations offer good fishing for fish such as flathead, leather jackets, whiting, Australian salmon, squid, rainbow trout or golden perch inland. Each day the conditions will be assessed, and locations may be changed from the program, if needed.

Students will learn about the bay systems, how they relate to fish breeding habits and the ecology of the area.

Size limits will be strictly enforced and except for a small number of keepers for each student, catch and release will be encouraged to reflect sustainability practices. This particularly applies to any large species we catch. Any of these species caught over 40cm will be returned to fight again. Naturally we will attempt to capture our catch on camera. No fishing license is required for anyone under 18 years of age. If it's raining, we still fish, so make sure you have wet gear.

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,

Ms Rosie Cian Fishing 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.

FISHING CAMP INFORMATION

CAMP DATES

Monday 18 - 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 $450 (which includes transport, a visit to the trout farm, the fishing charter on Western Port Bay, some replacement tackle if needed and bait), which will be charged to student accounts.

TRANSPORT

Students will travel on a Rosa bus driven by staff.

Departure Students are to arrive at the main driveway (entrance side) by no later than 8:30am each day throughout the week (i.e. from Monday 18 August to Friday 22 August) and we will be leaving Woodleigh at 8.45am.

Return We will arrive back at school at approximately 3.45pm each day and 3pm on Wednesday

LOCATION

The camp is located around both Western Port Bay and Port Phillip Bay.

MEALS

Students are required to bring lunch, snacks and drinks for the whole day. We will often not be near any shops.

ACTIVITIES

Our fishing will take place from calm shores and piers, based on the tides and conditions. These locations offer good fishing for fish such as flathead, leather jackets, whiting, Australian salmon, squid, rainbow trout or golden perch inland. Each day the conditions will be assessed, and locations maybe changed from the program if needed.

Students will learn about the bay systems, how they relate to fish breeding habits and the ecology of the area.

Size limits will be strictly enforced and except for a small number of keepers for each student, catch and release will be encouraged to reflect sustainability practices. This particularly applies to any large species we catch. Any of these species caught over 40cm will be returned to fight again. Naturally we will attempt to capture our catch on camera. No fishing license is required for anyone under 18 years of age.

CLOTHING/EQUIPMENT

What to bring on camp each day:

• Lunch, snacks and drinks/refillable drink bottle each day.

• Woollen or warm jumper.

• Beanie or warm hat/cap.

• Waterproof jacket.

• Lots of old warm clothing including a track suit (may need to change wet clothes).

• Heavy duty footwear such as hiking boots, old runners.

• Sunscreen.

• Insect repellent.

• Fishing gear: must include tackle, spare line and bank rod holder (optional but useful) packed into a tackle box/soft bag.

All participants will need the following fishing gear:

• Fishing Rod suitable for pier and calm shore fishing. There is a maximum of 2 rods per person.

• Spinning Reel in good condition with 2 to 5 kg line. Students will also need spare line.

• Small Tackle Box containing hooks, swivels, small ball and barrel sinkers and spare line, cleaning knife and scaler. Optional extras include floats & split shot (handy) and plastics. Plastics save on bait usage and can be effective.

• Fish keeper and landing net (these are optional).

• Rod holder - for bank fishing (optional).

DO NOT BRING

Valuables, drones, or any articles that you would hate to lose or break, and computers/laptops/iPads.

MOBILE PHONES

A reminder that the Woodleigh School Mobile Phone policy will be in effect throughout the week. Students will be required to bring their mobile phones on this camp as a safety measure in order to be able to contact staff during the day especially when we are spread out on the shore. Students will hopefully be able to use them to take photos of the fish they catch!

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.

• Drowning.

In order to mitigate these risks - students will be required to have the appropriate safety clothing and equipment (list provided). Staff will be checking the weather and conditions daily and the program may change in the interests of safety if required. Staff will carry rescue equipment and first aid equipment.

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 fishing location 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.