Expeditions that promote growth, community, and respect for the environment.
Program Overview
The Outdoor Education Program is a College led and run initiative that safely introduces students to diverse outdoor experiences that promote independence and resilience, a sense of community, and a call to adventure. The curriculum is carefully designed and themed around the student’s developmental stage. Through the program, students expand their awareness, knowledge, and respect for each other and the various environments that make up our world, such as marine, forest, alpine, and mountain ecosystems.
The Outdoor Education Objective
ELTHAM aims to provide students a progressive suite of experiences in the outdoors, promoting a more positive attitude towards self, others, and the environment. The goal of this program is to challenge each individual to step out of comfort zones through practical hands-on experiences.
This flexible learning style provides opportunities for self-directed learning, enriching a young person’s personal growth, development and resilience. The program facilitates the development of a values system based on fairness, equity, and community.
Key Information
Student Involvement
The program runs as compulsory camps and may be woven into other parts of the curriculum from Year 3 through Year 9, with elective and co-curricular options available to students in Years 10 – 12.
Leadership Opportunity
Year 10 students can apply for the Year 10 Outdoor Education Leadership program where they receive additional training and attend the Year 3 – Year 9 camps, working alongside staff to run them.
Facilitators
Led by our Outdoor Education Program Coordinator Guy Mitchell, in collaboration with camp volunteer teachers; the Year 10 Outdoor Education Leaders; the ELTHAM College Wilderness Student Leaders; and external providers.
Program Planning
Our programs build on students’ skills year on year. Each program is age-appropriate in the types of activities offered and the skills being developed. This generates positive student engagement, providing everyone a mix of activities – from challenging outdoor adventures in the day, to relaxing social activities in the evening.
All programs prepare students before departing on their expeditions. If any accommodations or support systems are required, staff from the Outdoor Education program and Student Services consider the student’s requirements individually to create a tailored plan within their existing year level program.
Skills and Competencies
Students complete assessed projects in Outdoor Education, which can include:
- Trangia stove cooking, hygienic food storage, self-sufficient food preparation and production
- Minimal environment impact camping
- Packing for journey-based hiking
- Recognising weather and environmental conditions and making safe decisions
- Recognising confidence and anxieties when exposed to various activity settings
- Understanding the concept of journey programs
- Route planning, navigation
- Emergency procedures in the wilderness
- Wilderness first-aid
A Glimpse of their Daring Adventure
Year 3/4 “My first O.E Experience”
Low ropes, archery, giant swing, flying fox, reptile show, damper cooking, yabby catching, hut building, tree top discovery.
Year 5/6 “Adventure”
Summit Camp: Sky Bridge, Leap of Faith, Laser Tag, Monster Mud Course, high wire, Trangia stove cooking, Sovereign Hill, abseiling, canoeing, orienteering.
Year 7 “Who We Are and How We Fit In”
Marine activities, camp preparation, Trangia stove cooking, swimming assessment, surf lessons, mountain bike riding, canoeing, hiking.
Year 8 “Introduction to Journey Programs”
Grampians National Park Experience. Small living communities, student self-cater and cook in small groups, moving campsites each day, rock climbing, abseiling, overnight hiking, survival activities, rock exploration.
Year 9 “We Are the Leaders”
Wilson’s Promontory 6-day student-driven hiking journey, divided into leadership groups, navigating the route using maps and compasses.
Year 10 “Outdoor Education Leadership Program”
Students have the opportunity to give back through the O.E. Program by becoming Program Leaders across Years 3 – 7.
Year 10 “Elective: Journey to the Top”
Alpine National Park. Mountain bike riding, canoeing on moving water, caving, navigation and route planning, first aid, food preparation, 8-day bush walk from Mt Feathertop to Mt Bogong.
Senior School Co-Curricular Options
Overland Track Tasmania (Cradle Mountain National Park)
Falls Creek Ski Camp (Year 8 – 12)
Guy Mitchell, Our Resident Outdoor Expert
“The program pushes kids in a really healthy way. When you see them on the program, you get a different understanding of who they are, and it’s great seeing them achieve. It’s about challenging yourself, overcoming a fear, stepping out of your comfort zone, and seeing how far you can get.
"I started almost 24 years ago and over the journey, I get to see every student, all the way, through every year. I’ve got many ex-students and O.E. leaders who now work in the field. They’re out there doing what they love – and that’s something that grew out of their outdoor education experience.”
Inside the Outdoor Education Program
Gain an insider's perspective from ELTHAM College Year 11 student Kit, who has pushed and challenged himself beyond what he thought possible in the great outdoors. Hear from Outdoor Education Program Coordinator Guy Mitchell as he breaks down the program approach for different year levels, and Kit’s mother, Lara, as she shares the real-life-ready development of personal growth she has witnessed in her son.
Explore ELTHAM Through Real Stories
At ELTHAM College, every student’s journey is unique. Hear directly from our students and program coordinators as they share their experiences in the program.
"Outdoor Ed at ELTHAM initiates a wide range of sequential collaborative activities that can evolve into viable recreational pursuits as students progress, all the while extending and enriching each individual through practical and experiential learning.”
Guy Mitchell, Program Coordinator
ELTHAM College takes them everywhere.
Whether it’s a love for the environment or the discovery of self growth...
Their everywhere starts here