

18-22 AUGUST 2025
18-22 AUGUST 2025
July 2025
Dear Student and Parents/Guardians,
The Slow Fashion Camp takes place during Activities Week at Woodleigh Senior Campus from Monday 18 August to Friday 22 August 2025.
Fashion shouldn’t cost the Earth. Slow fashion is an approach in which designers, buyers, retailers, and consumers are more aware of the impacts of products on workers, communities, and ecosystems. During this week, students will have the opportunity to dive into the world of sustainable fashion and explore the concept of slow fashion. Vivienne Westwood said, “Buy less, choose well, make it last”. We will explore this philosophy in several ways over the week including learning about quality fabrics and staples, recycling and reusing through shopping at second-hand shops and learning some basic sewing skills at the Recycled Sewing Studio. We will utilise these introductory sewing skills to make alterations or even entirely new designs. Students will also have the unique opportunity to attend a sustainable and ethical clothing tour in Melbourne with a local expert. Through this camp students will gain a better understanding of the impact of their fashion choices on the environment and society.
This camp is best for students who are into fashion, vintage clothing and op-shopping, sewing, sustainability, café-culture and Rosa-busmixed-tapes.
*Camp cost excludes spending money for op-shops, so please do budget in a modest sum for clothes and accessories shopping. 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 Emma Craven
Slow Fashion Camp Coordinator
Our camp is being held on the lands of the Wurundjeri, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
CAMP DATES
Monday 18 - Friday 22 August 2025.
If you believe your child needs to take medication during the school day on camp, please contact the School Nurse before Monday 11 August
The cost of this Activities Week Camp is approximately $300, which will be charged to student accounts. Please note that students will need some spending money in order to purchase materials/clothing at the op-shops throughout the week.
Students will need to meet in the Arts wing from 8.45am for a 9am start. Students will be travelling from school to various locations throughout the week, always returning in time for the end of the school day.
The camp is based at Woodleigh Senior Campus during normal school hours. Each day, students will be off-site travelling to a number of locations including the CBD, Hampton, Dromana, Mornington and Carrum Downs.
Students are required to bring their water bottles and lunches. The school canteen will be open in a limited capacity during the week.
Students will start by creating a fashion mood board at school - communicating their fashion interests and inspiration for the week. They will then visit a number of second-hand clothing shops, purchasing clothes, exploring styles and putting together fashion styles. Students will hear from people who work in sustainable and ethical clothing manufacturing. These speakers will provide valuable insights into the industry and the important work being done to promote sustainability and ethical practices. Students will complete a short at-school workshop to learn basic sewing skills including how to set up and use a sewing machine. Students will spend a day off-site in Hampton learning how to make adjustments and new products using old materials whilst exploring the world of sustainable fashion with an expert. An exhibition at the end of the week at the Elisabeth Murdoch Gallery will complete the slow fashion journey.
Woodleigh School Dress Code policy will be in effect throughout the week.
A reminder that the Woodleigh School Mobile Phone policy will be in effect throughout the week.
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:
• Risk involved in using equipment like sewing machines and fabric scissors with textile preparation
• Getting lost whilst off school grounds.
In order to mitigate these risks:
• The professional instructors are well regarded for their safety practices. The School Nurse present while on campus. Staff will carry first aid kits and have first aid training.
• Protocols concerning safe movement, travel and communication will be established for all students when off-site.
• 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.
• 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.
Monday
8.45am - Arrive
9.00am - Start
10.00am - Recess
12.30pm - Lunch
3.45pm - Dismissal
Tuesday
Wednesday
8.45am - Arrive
9.00am - Start
10.00am - Recess
12.30pm - Lunch
3.45pm - Dismissal
Today we will visit the Recycled Sewing Studio in Hampton and take part in an all-day sewing workshop using up-cycled fabric to create something new. For this first day, students will need to bring a secondhand men’s business shirt for a project.
Lunch will be off-site - you can BYO lunch & water bottle or bring money to purchase lunch from the cafe near the workshop.
At the end of the day on return to school we will showcase our styles in a mini-fashion show.
Morning: Creation of a fashion mood board so you can communicate your taste, style and inspiration - narrowing your focus for the week. We will practice some basic sewing skills including how to set up and use a sewing machine.
Lunch: At school (baked potato supplied) or BYO lunch & water bottle.
Afternoon: Visiting a number of Op-Shops in Carrum Downs including Savers.
Thursday
8.45am - Arrive
9.00am - Start
10.00am - Recess
12.30pm - Lunch
3.00pm - Dismissal
Today we will visit Brunswick and take part in a sustainable and ethical fashion tour with our expert guide Jenna.
Lunch will be off-site - you can BYO lunch & water bottle or bring money to purchase lunch.
Friday
8.45am - Arrive
9.00am - Start
10.00am - Recess
12.30pm - Lunch
3.45pm - Dismissal
Morning: Today we will start by doing a short exploration into slow fashion at school. We will make some initial simple alterations to items purchased the previous day.
Lunch: In Mornington, BYO lunch & water bottle or bring money to purchase lunch.
Afternoon: Visiting a number of Op-Shops in Mornington.
8.45am - Arrive
9.00am - Start
10.00am - Recess
12.30pm - Lunch
3.45pm - Dismissal
Please note: These times and/or activities could be subject to change.
Morning: Sewing followed by a visit to Dromana.
Lunch: Dromana, chips at the beach.
Afternoon: Sewing. At the end of the day we will showcase our styles in a mini-fashion show.
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.