Outdoor Education

TAS Outdoor Education

Outdoor Education – Scope and Sequence

Benefits of Outdoor Education

Outdoor Recreation

Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

About the Program

Regarded as one of the leading programs of its type in the country, the award-winning TAS Outdoor Education Program is unique in its design and delivery.

The program begins in Year 1 and extends to Year 12. The duration of each trip ranges from one day in Year 1 to an 18-day Outdoor Education Program in Year 9. Primary school programs are centre-based and build on a range of personal and outdoor education skills. Secondary school programs are journey- or expedition-based, with Year 11 and 12 programs focus on leadership, teamwork and effective communication.

YEAR 1 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: Half day (approximately 2.5 hours)

Venue: Trinity Anglican School (each campus)

Learning Outcomes: The central objective of the Year 1 Outdoor Education Program is to introduce students to the outdoors so they can become confident and comfortable.

Synopsis: Students participate in group games, bush art, and bush construction. They also learn about mealtime routines, including cross-curricular learning linked to the Health and Physical Education Curriculum. TAS Outdoor Education staff facilitate the program, with support from class teachers.

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YEAR 2 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: 2 days, 1 night

Venue: Trinity Anglican School (each campus)

Learning Outcomes: The central objective of the Year 2 Outdoor Education Program is to introduce students to sleeping away from home and in the outdoors. They are also introduced to meal routines and develop essential personal organisation skills.

Synopsis: Students participate in group games and outdoor learning, including cross-curricular learning linked to the Health and Physical Education Curriculum. TAS Outdoor Education staff facilitate the program, with support from class teachers and catering provided by the school tuck shop.

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YEAR 3 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: 3 days, 2 nights

Venue: Camp Paterson, 6–8-bed dorms

Learning Outcomes: The central objective of the Year 3 Outdoor Education Program is to introduce students to aquatic awareness, creativity and personal organisation.

Synopsis: The main activities are teamwork, environmental exploration, aquatics and tree planting. Cross-curricular learning is linked to both Health and Physical Education and Science. TAS Outdoor Education staff and contractors facilitate the program, with support from class teachers and catering provided by Camp Paterson staff. Facilities include 6- or 8-person permanent tents/dorms, hot showers and flush toilets.

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YEAR 4 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: 3 days, 2 nights

Venue: Quinola Lakes, 6–8-bed dorms

Learning Outcomes: The central objective of the Year 4 Outdoor Education Program is the development of teamwork skills, foundational skills of personal initiative, personal organising and aquatic awareness.

Synopsis: Main activities are based around teamwork, aquatics, hiking, exploration and initiative. Cross-curricular learning is linked to the Health and Physical Education curriculum. TAS Outdoor Education staff and contractors facilitate the program, with support from class teachers and catering provided by Love Lee Catering. Facilities include 6- or 8-person permanent tents/dorms, hot showers and flush toilets.

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YEAR 5 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: 3 days, 2 nights

Venue: Camp Barrabadeen, tent accommodation

Learning Outcomes: The central objective of the Year 5 Outdoor Education Program is learning the fundamentals of outdoor camping and activities, skill introduction for camping and the development of self-management.

Synopsis: Main activities are canoeing, hiking and abseiling. Cross-curricular learning is linked to the Health and Physical Education curriculum. TAS Outdoor Education staff and contractors facilitate the program, with support from class teachers and catering provided by Love Lee Catering. Facilities include 2- or 3-person tents, hot showers and long drop toilets.

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YEAR 6 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: 4 days, 3 nights

Venue: Chillagoe, tent accommodation

Learning Outcomes: The central objective of the Year 6 Outdoor Education Program is to promote teamwork, develop skills in caving navigation, and learn self-management.

Synopsis: Main activities are caving, teamwork, map reading and learning about local history. Cross-curricular learning is linked to Health and Physical Education, Humanities and English. TAS Outdoor Education staff and contractors facilitate the program, with support from class teachers and catering is provided by Love Lee Catering. Facilities include 2- or 3-person tents, hot showers and flush toilets.

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YEAR 7 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: 5 days, 4 nights

Venue: Camp Paterson, near Mareeba, tent accomodation

Learning Outcomes:

Introduction to journey-based camping and travel
Minimal impact

Synopsis: Main activities are canoeing, mountain biking, hiking, campsite operation, tree planting and environmental awareness. Cross-curricular learning is linked to Health and Physical Education, Values Education and Hospitality. TAS Outdoor Education contractors facilitate the groups, with support from class teachers and TAS Outdoor Education staff. Students do all their own cooking and food preparation. Facilities include 2- or 3-person tents, bush toileting and with swims in the creek for washing.

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YEAR 8 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: 5 days, 4 nights

Venue: Emerald Escapes, near Mareeba, tent accommodation

Learning Outcomes:

Refining intermediate outdoor skills
Developing personal organisation

Synopsis: Main activities are hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, teamwork and navigation. Cross-curricular learning is linked to Health and Physical Education and Values Education. TAS Outdoor Education contractors facilitate the groups, with support from class teachers and TAS Outdoor Education staff. Students do all their own cooking and food preparation. Facilities include 2- or 3-person tents, bush toileting and swims in the creek for washing.

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YEAR 9 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: 18 days, 17 nights

Venue: Lake Tinaroo, tent accommodation

Learning Outcomes:

Development of personal resilience and perseverance
Personal growth
Development of teamwork skills
Development of leadership skills

Synopsis: Main activities are hiking, canoeing, sailing, mountain biking, abseiling, high ropes courses, orienteering and navigation. Cross-curricular learning is linked to Health and Physical Education, English and Values Education. TAS Outdoor Education contractors facilitate the groups, with support from class teachers and TAS Outdoor Education staff. Students do all their own cooking and food preparation. Facilities include 2- or 3-person tents, a mix of bush and regular toileting, and a combination of swims in the creek/dam for washing and regular showers.

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YEAR 10 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: 5 days, 4 nights

Venue: Various locations, tent accommodation

Learning Outcomes:

Development of personal resilience and perseverance, and personal growth
Development of teamwork and leadership skills

Synopsis: The Year 10 Outdoor Education Program is the only whole-year-level program where students get to choose their own outdoor education activity. These include sailing a traditional sail boat from Cairns to Townsville, paddling, mountain biking and hiking. Cross-curricular learning is linked to Health and Physical Education, and Values Education. Students also plan, purchase, and cook all their own food. Facilities include 2- or 3-person tents, a mix of bush and regular toileting and swims in the creeks for washing.

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YEAR 11 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: 3 days, 2 nights

Venue: Northern Outlook, Redlynch Valley, tent accommodation

Learning Outcomes:

Development leadership skills, communication and teamwork
Development of initiative
Personal growth, perseverance and resilience

Synopsis: Main activities are hiking, leadership, teamwork and communication theory. Cross-curricular learning is linked to Values Education. TAS Outdoor Education staff and contractors facilitate the groups, with support from class teachers and TAS Outdoor Education staff. Students do all their own cooking and food preparation. Facilities include 2- or 3-person tents, both regular and bush toileting, swims in the creek for washing and regular showers.

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YEAR 12 OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

Duration: 3 days, 2 nights

Venue: Genazzano, Lake Tinaroo, tent accommodation

Learning Outcomes:

Development of personal resilience and perseverance
Personal growth
Development of teamwork skills, including house and cohort bonding
Development of leadership skills

Synopsis: The Year 12 Outdoor Education Program (Retreat) is conducted at the Genazzano Conference Centre. The main activities are based around leadership, teamwork, personal reflection and house bonding. Cross-curricular learning is linked to Values Education. Heads of House and TAS Outdoor Education staff facilitate the groups. Catering is provided by the program venue and facilities include dorm rooms and regular bathroom amenities.

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Benefits of Outdoor Education

Outdoor education is designed to further each student's relationship with their self, peers and natural environment.

Relationship with self

Resilience, responsibility and self-confidence are just a few of the many personal skills nurtured in the Outdoor Education Program. Activities of self-reflection and personal organisation further develop these skills.

Relationship with community

As students progress through the program, they develop increasingly strong leadership skills, empathy and understanding through teamwork and communication.

Relationship with environment

Each student's connection to the natural environment is nurtured through activities of outdoor pursuit, adventure and journey-based expeditions. Students grow to understand the importance of sustainability and the role nature plays in health and wellbeing.

Year 10 Outdoor Recreation Program

This exciting, custom-made Outdoor Recreation Program is developed to meet the needs of Year 10 students and nurture their personal and leadership skills.

The program features an additional 25 field days throughout the year, including a three- or four-day end-of-term trip. Activities can include kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, navigation, lifesaving and rescue.

Upon completion of the program, students will receive the following:

Senior First Aid Certificate (Remote and Wilderness Context)
Bronze Medallion Lifesaving Qualification
Course certificate with skills learned and outcomes achieved
Logbook with around 25 days of outdoor experience
Optional accreditation for students working towards their Bronze or Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

This internationally recognised youth development program is open to anyone between the ages of 14 and 25. It is comprised of three challenging levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Each level required students to complete activities that fall within four key pillars – service, skills, physical recreation and adventure journey. Students are nurtured into quality citizens who strive to improve the communities in which they live and make constructive use of their leisure time. The award is based on individual achievement allowing participants to develop their self-confidence, perseverance, integrity and essential life skills.