Year 7 Outdoor Education Experience

Week 2 saw the Year 7 students, both new and continuing, packing their bags and dodging the summer morning downpour to excitedly head for Camp Somerset. Primed with the theme of ‘Connections’, students were embarking on four days of outdoor learning focused on building new friendships, strengthening their teamwork skills and enjoying some time in the great outdoors. Whilst the notion of being in a group with unfamiliar people was testing for the cohort, they took these challenges in their stride and embraced every opportunity in front of them. Students spent four days working to support each other through the different obstacles that come with hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, high ropes activities and camping out. Students soon realised that we all have different strengths that we can share to support each other within our community in times of challenge. Well done to the Year 7 cohort for the way they embraced their outdoor learning experience this year, we were blessed with great weather conditions and made wonderful memories to last a lifetime. Thank you to the staff who gave of their time to support student learning outdoors; Mr Alex O’Connor, Mr Andrew Block, Mrs Leah Croke, Mr Ben Ryan, Mr Brett Kersnovske, Mr Josh Danzey and Pastor Tim Jarick.

Duke of Edinburgh and Bridge Awards

The Duke of Edinburgh Award and it’s younger sibling the Bridge Award, are internationally recognised leadership and personal development awards operating in more than 120 countries world-wide. The Dukes Award is open to all young people aged 14-24, while the Bridge Award is for those aged 11-14. The Awards focus on personal development and leadership skills; it is a non-competitive, enjoyable, voluntary and balanced program, which requires some student agency and commitment outside the usual College curriculum. It is a program that enables young people to demonstrate self-development within an internationally recognised framework.

Both awards follow the same format at age-appropriate levels of challenge. The Bridge Award has level 1 and 2 and the Dukes Award comprises of three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold – each progressively more challenging. Each level is made up of four sections: Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journeys and at the completion of each Dukes level, QCE points are awarded.

If you would like to be involved in the Duke of Edinburgh or Bridge Award and spend time exploring the world around you, please get in touch with Ms Kim Wood (Head of Outdoor Education) on kwood@pacluth.qld.edu.au.

Ms Kim Wood, Head of Outdoor Education