Outdoor Education Program

Year 9 and 10 Camp – June 2017

Parents with children in Years 9 and 10 are requested to take note of the Parent Information Evenings that are scheduled in the coming weeks. At these meetings, parents will hear the two options open to their families for the Year 9 and 10 camps this year. At the conclusion of the meetings, parents and students will be requested to commit to one of the options so that preparations and planning can formally commence. It is essential that a member of each family from Year 9 and 10 is present at these meetings.

• Year 9 Parent Information Evening: Tuesday 7^th February at 6.00pm (after the Rite Journey Calling Ceremony but before the Middle College Information Evening). Information regarding the Rite Journey Calling will be home next week.
• Year 10 Parent Information Evening: Tuesday 21^st February at 6.30pm.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

At this week’s Middle and Senior College assembly, the following students received certificates and badges for completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award:

• Silver Awards – Liam Dines and Matt Daniec
• Bronze Awards – Josie Bradshaw and Thomas Turner

These students have worked on achieving their awards for over six months, showing amazing drive and self-motivation throughout this time. Currently, the College has over 40 students enrolled in the program with four students in the process of completing their Gold Awards.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award and Duke of Edinburgh Bridge Award are open to all students who are 12 years and older. Students complete a number of activities across the fields of Skill Development, Voluntary and Community Service, Physical Recreation and an Expedition or Exploration. Further information about the awards can be obtained by emailing Dr Peter McMahon at: pmcmahon@pacluth.qld.edu.au or students can speak directly with Dr McMahon.

New Zealand Expedition December 2017

Planning is now well underway for the expeditions taking place at the end of the year. The experience is open to students in Years 9-12 and their parents. This year, two expedition options are being planned. Expedition A will depart on Wednesday 21^st November. This expedition will see the group mountain biking, tramping, canoeing and rafting from Greymouth on the west coast to the Clarence River district on the east coast of the south island. Expedition B will depart on Wednesday 6^th December and will join Expedition A at the Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre, completing the journey as one group. The group will then undertake a four-day tramp in Lewis Pass, three-day mountain bike ride and five days rafting on the Clarence River. The expeditions will return on Wednesday 20^th December.

An information evening is being held prior to the Year 12 Parent Information Evening on Tuesday 14^th February at 5.30pm in D8. Interested students and parents are requested to email Dr McMahon at: pmcmahon@pacluth.qld.edu.au to advise of their interest in the expedition and/or attendance at this information evening.

Senior Voluntary Holiday Outdoor Education Programs

At the Middle and Senior College assembly this week, students heard about the holiday programs on offer in 2017. The programs are open to Years 10, 11 and 12 students and parents. These are voluntary, user pays, programs where students attending play an active role in planning the adventure. The programs offered this year are:

• Seven day White Water Canoeing Expedition from 2^nd – 8^th April on either the Clarence or Nymboida Rivers;
• Five day Mt Barney and Barney Creek Tramp from 26^th – 30^th June; and
• Seven day Mountain Bike Expedition from 17^th – 23^rd September in Northern New South Wales.

Meetings for the White Water Canoeing Expedition will occur next week and information letters will distributed at these meetings.

Dr Peter McMahon, Head of Outdoor Education