MIDDLE KINGLAKE CAMP 2025 BROADENING
Woodleigh School Broadening Horizons
BROADENING HORIZONS
1-5 DECEMBER 2025
MIDDLE KINGLAKE PRIMARY SCHOOL CAMP
November 2025
Dear Student and Parents/Guardians,
For the past fifteen years, since the tragedy that was Black Saturday, Woodleigh Students have been travelling to Middle Kinglake Primary School (MKPS) to support the staff and students there.
You have been selected to travel on this year’s Community Service Camp to Middle Kinglake. We will be camping on the school grounds in tents provided by yourselves and conduct a number of activities with the students in their classes as well as providing classroom support for staff. During the afternoons and evenings, we will be exploring the local areas of Whittlesea and Healesville, both of which were also affected by the fires.
THE AIMS OF THE CAMP
• Provide you with the opportunity to develop an awareness of needs within the community of Kinglake and surrounds.
• Develop an understanding of the ongoing needs of a community after a catastrophic event.
• Develop strong ties with Middle Kinglake Primary School and foster an ongoing relationship with the school.
• Foster a sense of community and understanding from one school to another.
• Assist the school and the wider community in re-establishing themselves.
• Foster both student-teacher and student-student relationships - providing an opportunity for sharing, companionship and support within an environment different from our daily school life.
• Encourage both confidence and self-reliance, especially with the more challenging activities offered.
• Develop an “environmental awareness”.
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,
Ms Elspeth Cooper Broadening Horizons - Middle Kinglake Primary School 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 HORIZONSMIDDLE KINGLAKE PRIMARY SCHOOL
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 $200 which will be charged to student accounts. This charge contributes towards the costs of food and transport. We encourage students to earn their own money to pay for this camp rather than asking parents.
SPENDING MONEY
Approximately $50 for the week for any additional snacks and activities.
TRANSPORT
Transport to and from this camp will be in a staff driven bus.
Departure: Students to arrive at Woodleigh at 7.30am on Monday 1 December, meeting in the bus bay near the main carpark exit gate to load gear. The bus will depart Woodleigh at 8am, so please arrive on time.
Return: Students will return to Woodleigh by approximately 5.00pm on Friday 5 December (traffic dependent) and can be collected at the main driveway.
LOCATION & ACCOMMODATION
We will be based in Kinglake and camping in tents.
ACTIVITIES
Based at Middle Kinglake Primary School, our daily program will vary according to the needs of the Primary School teachers. It is expected that we will be involved in activities such as the following:
Christmas Themed Art Activities: Making Cards, gifts and Christmas decorations with students.
Basic Cooking: Decorating Christmas biscuits, making chocolate balls and rocky road, sausage rolls or Pinwheels.
Sporting Activities: Running football, basketball and other sporting activities.
Drama Games: Appropriate Drama games for the age of the students.
Helping out in the classroom: Students will assist teachers in the classroom with reading, writing and maths activities.
Afternoon/Evening: Our leisure time program will be dependent on time available, group interests and weather conditions. It is possible we will do some of the following:
BBQ Dinner: We hope to have a BBQ dinner on the first night with some staff and students from Middle Kinglake at the Primary School.
Healesville: One afternoon we will visit Healesville to have a look around the town and have a take away dinner.
Kinglake: One afternoon we will visit Bollygum Park and have Pizza for dinner at a local restaurant.
MEALS
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will be provided.
Breakfast will include cereal, toast and fruit with juice, tea and coffee. Lunch will be sandwiches/rolls with fillings such as ham, tuna, salami, cheese, tomato, lettuce, etc.
Dinners will include a BBQ, Pizza in Kinglake, Fish and Chips in Whittlesea and Charcoal Chicken in Healesville.
CLOTHING/EQUIPMENT
Be sensible when you’re packing because we have limited room.
Toiletries
• Toothbrush & toothpaste.
• Brush &/or comb.
• Soap.
• Shampoo.
• Deodorant.
• Towel.
Clothing
Sensible clothing to suit the conditions and activities.
Please note that the weather can be quite changeable in Kinglake and you will need to be prepared for warm days and possibly cool nights. It is important that you pack appropriate clothing i.e. not too revealing, remember you will be bending over and sitting on the floor with preps and junior grades so short skirts are not suitable, please make sure that your pants cover all of you i.e. no long slung jeans or pants.
It is important that you are dressed appropriately in the classroom, please consider this when packing!
Apart from your everyday clothes you will also need to pack:
• Rain Jacket.
• Sturdy Shoes.
• Wide Brimmed Hat – this is essential. You will not be able to participate in any outdoor activities at the Primary School without a hat.
• Warm sleeping gear.
Other
• Torch
• Sunglasses.
• Sunscreen.
• Insect repellent.
• Sleeping bag.
• Sleeping mat.
• Day pack.
• Water bottle.
• Clothes pegs.
• Camping chair.
Optional
• Pillow.
• Camera.
• Small musical instrument.
• Cards/games.
• Book.
Additional equipment – shared between participants
• Tent – with all pegs and accessories.
• Small broom (a dustpan/brush is ideal).
• Ground sheet.
• Chairs/stools (collapsible).
• Card Table (optional).
• Hammer/Mallet.
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
• Normal school rules apply. Smoking, vaping, drugs and alcohol are prohibited, and any other forms of inappropriate behaviour is also unacceptable.
• 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.
• No camp fires.
• No swimming allowed.
• Tents must be at least three metres apart.
• Never leave the camp site/school without the permission of a staff member.
• Each camper is responsible for the immediate environment and must keep it tidy and not damage any of the surroundings.
Woodleigh School Broadening Horizons
• No-one is to enter anyone else’s tent before breakfast or after dark.
• For any unsupervised activities, such as free time, students to be in groups of at least three with mobile phone on. Staff will have a list of all student mobile numbers and students will have staff contact numbers, meeting times and designated boundaries. 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 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 tents. The tents are only for sleeping and dressing. 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.
MY CAMP CHECKLIST
Things to purchase / Things to take
