Outdoor Education

Outdoor Education is an integral part of life at Canberra Grammar School. The Outdoor experience starts in the Junior School and continues throughout the Senior School and is based upon experiential learning. It is an exciting and dynamic area of learning promoting personal growth and enhancing community awareness, by working together to meet group challenges and encouraging students to work towards a sustainable future, with an awareness and respect for the environment.

The Outdoor Education program reflects the holistic nature of education at Canberra Grammar School. It has a strong tradition within the school and is valued amongst staff and students. It helps prepare young men to become life long learners.

The program at Canberra Grammar provides a sequential progression of skills, encouraging students to work interdependently with each other. Students are challenged both physically and socially and combine to meet these challenges. Through these challenges they are able to set personal goals and discover self-identity.

The Program

Outdoor Education at Canberra Grammar is a mobile program. A number of sites are used and students will visit a diverse range of exciting places. Students in Grade 5 and 6 travel to the Kangaroo Valley to take part in a residential program of up to 4 days in length. Here they are introduced to camp activities in a safe but challenging environment.

In Year 7 students attend a 4 day camp focusing on friendships and group unity, for many students who are new to the school this is their first outdoor camp experience. The emphasis for Outdoor Education at Canberra Grammar can be found at Year 9 level. Each boy spend five days on camp learning bushcraft, and skills such as abseiling, caving and orienteering. Boys are placed in groups of 18 students and are accompanied by two experienced Outdoor Education staff.

In Year 10 boys can participate in a voluntary program where they can undertake an extension program involving a high level of commitment and challenge. Activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking and canoeing/kayaking are offered. There are also opportunities to attend extended camps which often use some holiday time. In 2006 there were trips to Far North Queensland and Tasmania and there are plans for expeditions to New Zealand and other overseas destinations.

Year 11 students may volunteer to take on a leadership role, training firstly with the outdoor education staff, and then accompanying one of the Year 9 camps as a leader.

Students learn a great deal from these exciting opportunities and many continue to pursue these activities once they have left school.