Outdoor Education

It has been a busy month in the Outdoor Education Department, with four year levels heading off for their much anticipated experiences this year.

In October, we launched a new Outdoor Education experience for Year 6 students. While we were unable to travel interstate for the traditional Canberra trip, Year 6 students were excited to experience the outback, travelling to Longreach and Winton instead. The bus trip was filled with board games, trivia, card games and craft and before we knew it, we had arrived in Longreach to the red earth beneath our feet. Students had a busy few days visiting attractions such as the Waltzing Matilda Centre, the Age of Dinosaurs museum and the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame to name a few. Students experienced first-hand the impact of the current drought on farmers as they met ‘Outback Dan’ at Camden Park Station, who generously showed us around his property. A highlight for both staff and students was the lightshow at the QANTAS museum, a history of aviation in Australia expertly projected onto the side of a 747. Thank you to our wonderful staff Mr Stuart Pohlner, Mrs Linda Sydes, Mrs Kim Keirnan, Mrs Natalie Campbell and outdoor aides Karen McLean, Kristan Fischer, Bryn Harper, Gennessa Lee and Tegan Luker for their relentless energy, patience and support for our Year 6 students.

Year 9 students headed to Kenilworth for 12 days of exploration in the Conondale National Park and surrounding private properties. This extended experience utilised the outdoor environment to draw focus on their transition from Middle to Senior College in our community. Students spent time in smaller groups working together to journey through the landscape, supporting each other when facing adversity and growing in confidence together. Whether it was from the trees tops or hill tops, students committed to supporting one another through the challenges and learnings on offer. To add to the adventure, there were numerous weather events which required changes to scheduled experiences … students were grateful for extra showers and cabin time! Students were adaptable and flexible in their thinking and adjusted to the daily changes at hand. A highlight for many students was the 24 hour solo experience. Students had their own outdoor space and shelter within the base camp property and spent time reflecting on who they are as a young person and what lies ahead of them as they grow towards adulthood. Many life-long friendships were forged during these 12-days. I am grateful to have shared the experience and journey with these young leaders of tomorrow. Thank you to staff who gave their time to contribute to this amazing experience: Mr Chris Bartlett, Ms Marg Gunn, Mr Duncan McNee, Mrs Emma Lendrum, Mrs Natalie Campbell, Mr Brendan Delaney, Ms Genessa Lee and outdoor aides Karen McLean, Tegan Luker, Kristan Fischer, Declan Pearl and Ben Ferguson. Thank you also to Pastor Tim Jarick and Mr Ben Ryan for visiting and helping to strengthen the connections back to our experiences at Pacific.

Year 3 students had their introductory experience at Alexandra Park Conference Centre in the last week of October. As their first of many outdoor experiences at Pacific, the Year 3 program explored the theme of positive experiences in nature. In small groups, students participated in some team challenge activities, built miniature rafts together and burnt off some energy while playing the open space games. For some of them, it was their first night sleeping away from home but they took the challenge in their stride. Students rounded out their experience with a nature walk around the property in the sunshine before heading home. I would like to congratulate the Year 3 students on their energy and enthusiasm for being outdoors and thank teachers Mrs Fiona Schefe, Mr Scott Massie, Mr Steven Healy, Ms Pia Henriksen, Mrs Karen Vorster, Mrs Sara Taverner, Ms Gennessa Lee and Mr Damian Davis and outdoor aides Bryn Harper and Weslee Audsley for their support in the delivery of this program.

Last but not least, was the long awaited re-scheduled Year 4 connection to place Outdoor Education program. Based at Luther Heights at Coolum, students were excited to learn more about our local area. Students undertook a range of exploration activities with a focus on indigenous culture and also participated in team building activities that required cooperation and problem solving skills. Earlier in the year, local Gubbi Gubbi elder Aunty Christine introduced students to the indigenous shelter, a Gunyah. She challenged students to recreate miniature versions of these Gunyah’s whilst away on their Outdoor Education experience. Aunty Christine joined the group on Tuesday afternoon and was proud to see all the Gunyah that the students had built. She then continued to share her knowledge of country and indigenous connection to the Sunshine Coast through an ochre painting workshop where the students painted indigenous symbols on rocks as a keep sake. It was a wonderful three days of learning outdoors. Thank you to staff Mrs Amanda Empson, Mrs Sarah Atkinson, Mr Joe Doran, Ms Pia Henriksen and Mrs Sara Taverner for their energy and support in organising the experience. I would also like to thank Mr Damian Davis and Ms Gennessa Lee for their leadership and Ben Ferguson and Tegan Luker for their ongoing commitment to delivering outdoor learning at Pacific.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to educate outdoors across both the Junior and Middle College this term. In a year that has been unpredictable and challenging in so many ways, I am thankful that we could continue to provide outdoor learning opportunities for all students. I hope all students and their families can enjoy some enjoyable time relaxing in the great outdoors over the upcoming summer holidays.

Yours in the outdoors…

Ms Kim Wood, Head of Outdoor Education