DUNKELD CAMP 2025
November 2025
Dear Student and Parents/Guardians,
The Dunkeld Pastoral Company is one of our partner reserves involved in breeding Eastern Quolls for release back into the wild in Victoria. They own a great deal of grazing land in the Western district, particularly around Hamilton, Horsham and the Grampians and are committed to conservation on all their properties with a dedicated team.
Students will be living at the Brauer College Outdoor Education campus in hut accommodation with full kitchen and bathroom facilities. We will be involved in several service programs that will assist in the management of the natural environment on these properties and the animal breeding programs.
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 in relation to this camp, please do not hesitate to contact me. We look forward to a fun and rewarding week!
Yours sincerely,
Dr Simpson Broadening Horizons - Dunkeld Camp Coordinator
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
We acknowledge and pay respect to the traditional custodians of this land and their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this land.
POLICY RELATING TO STUDENTS SENT HOME FROM CAMP
As a participant in the Broadening Horizons 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.
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 - 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, ie. 3 or more hours from school.
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 water based activities, students will need “rashies” or t-shirts. Sunscreen is an additional protection - it does not take the place of clothing or shade.
NO NUTS POLICY
Important: NO NUTS or NUT PRODUCTS are to be brought on camp, due to the risk of allergic reactions. Check packaging ingredient labels for evidence of nuts.
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 this camp will be handled in line with the School’s Privacy Policy.
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.
FIRE SEASON SAFETY
Please be aware with the unpredictability of weather patterns within Australia, this camp will be held during fire season times. In the case of a dry season, it is important that students should:
• Plan at least one non-cook meal for an event of a Total Fire Ban day/s.
• Bring fire ready clothes (longs made of natural fibres).
BROADENING HORIZONS
DUNKELD
CAMP INFORMATION
CAMP DATES
Monday 1 December until Friday 5 December 2025.
MEDICATION ON CAMP
Any students taking medication on camp will need to provide all medication (in original packaging) to school by no later than Wednesday 26 November. You can drop off the medication to reception anytime between 8am-4.30pm. Before handing in your child's medication, you are required to answer all the questions within the Operoo e-Form.
COST
The cost of the camp is approximately $250 which will be charged to student accounts. This charge contributes towards the costs of accommodation, transport, fuel, and all meals.
A small amount of spending money would be advised.
TRANSPORT
Transport to and from this camp will be in a staff driven bus.
Departure: Students to arrive at Woodleigh at 8am on Monday 1 December, meeting at the Cruden Oval carpark (near the Science building) to load gear. The bus will depart Woodleigh at 8.30am, so please arrive on time.
Return: Students will return to Woodleigh by 4pm on Friday 5 December and can be collected at the same location as drop off.
LOCATION
The camp is located at Brauer College Outdoor Education campus in Dunkeld.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is in simple hut-style shared facilities.
MEALS
All meals are supplied and will be shared group meals.
CLOTHING/EQUIPMENT
Clothing to last five days. Must include the following:
• Long pants.
• Long sleeve shirt.
• Wet-weather gear.
• Boots to work in.
• Sneakers or other fully enclosed shoes are necessary at all times. Sandals or Croc-style shoes will be suitable at accommodation. NO Thongs permitted.
• Hat - Peaked cap/brimmed.
• Beanie (advised - especially for cold nights).
• Waterbottle - 1 litre bottle.
• First Aid Kit. Personal needs such as elastoplast, elastic bandage, sun-screen and lip balm/moisturiser (essential) and insect repellant.
• Sunglasses (advised).
• Hoodie/Pyjamas/Thermals or alternate sleeping apparel.
• Sleeping Bag essential.
• Sleeping sheet - great for adding extra warmth when cold.
• Torch. A small, lightweight torch is essential. A headlamp is recommended for night work.
• Spare Batteries - essential as torch will be used frequently.
• Toiletries: Towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, etc. As getting towels dried could be an issue bringing a Chamois towel or “chux” wipe can assist.
• Camera (optional).
• Pillow (optional).
• Journal/reading book (optional).
• Bag. It is preferable that students pack all their equipment in one soft bag. Storage of bags for transport is limited so please bring only listed items.
• Food. All meals will be supplied. Please do not pack snack food.
• Games/Cards (optional). We’ll have some down time so having a book to read, games to play or a guitar for a sing-a-long would be great.
• Bring fire ready clothes (longs made of natural fibres, non-rubber sole shoes, head protection).
DO NOT BRING
Valuables, cameras or any articles that you don't want to lose or break, an excessive amount of money, lollies, electronic devices, laptops or IPads.
MOBILE PHONES
A reminder that the Woodleigh School Mobile Phone policy will be in effect throughout the week.
Mobile phones may be brought for the purposes of contacting parents regarding arrival times back at school. They will not be required for any other purpose during the week.
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.
In order to mitigate these risks:
• Students will be required to have the appropriate safety clothing and equipment (list provided).
• 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
• 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.
• Normal school rules apply. Smoking, vaping, drugs and alcohol are prohibited, and any other forms of inappropriate behaviour is also unacceptable.
• 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 room before breakfast or after dark. You will only enter someone else's room if the people in that group are there, invite you in and you have obtained permission from a staff member.
Students will be placed 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. 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 quite in the house is of the upmost importance.
Woodleigh School Broadening
DUNKELD CAMP PROGRAM
TIME & DAY Morning Afternoon Evening Meals Provided
Monday
Bus Departs Woodleigh 8.30am and arrive Dunkeld 12.30pm
Complete conservation work as directed Walk up the Picanninny Lunch and Dinner
Tuesday
Wednesday
Complete conservation work as directed
Complete conservation work as directed Walk up Mt Sturgeon
Thursday
Complete conservation work as directed
Complete conservation work as directed Walk up Mt Abrupt
Friday
Complete conservation work as directed
Complete conservation work as directed Dinner at The Royal Hotel Dunkeld
Pack up and clean the campsite and leave by 10.00am
Lunch in Inverleigh Return Woodleigh by 4pm Home
SERVICE WORK:
Service work will involve a range of activities. These may include planting, weeding, fence cleaning/repair, landscaping, feeding captive animals and cleaning the enclosures, and equipment management.
NIGHT WALK:
The camp is overlooked by three summits: Picanninny, Mt Sturgeon and Mt Abrupt. If the weather conditions permit, we'll challenge ourselves to walking all three.
MY CAMP CHECKLIST
Things to purchase / Things to take
