Land's Edge :: Outdoor Education Programming

Duration:	Five Days
Year Level:	Year 9
Location:	Murramarang National Park – Batemans Bay
Accommodation:	National Park campgrounds and bush camp sites
Aims:

	To cover all expeditioning requirements of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and/or completing specific units of competencies in the Outdoor Recreation Training Package at a Certificate level.
	To understand the basic knowledge and skills required to complete an expedition style bush/coastal walk.
	To investigate a coastal area (Murramarang National Park) with a view to developing a detailed depiction of the area and assist with Curriculum outcomes.
	To understand the fundamental safety considerations when spending time in semi-remote coastal environment.
	To develop and practice ‘Minimal Impact’ expeditioning and camping skills.
	To build upon the skills and knowledge obtained during previous Outdoor Education programs.
	At times create an atmosphere of reflection through different mediums such as completing a journal and/or participating in sessions facilitated by Lands’ Edge and school staff on request.
	To encourage participation in activities where students have the opportunity to: - View the coastal environment from different perspectives. For example: geographical, biological, adventurous and aesthetical - Increase water confidence - Act as a stimulant for further exploration of the coastal environment

Undertake and complete Bronze Duke of Edinburgh ‘Expedition’ (at least 2 days including 1 night) or Units of Competency from the Outdoor Recreation Training Package Certificate

Navigation, route planning and route finding

Food preparation and camp cooking

Personal hygiene in the bush

Expeditioning

General bush skills

Coastal safety

Moving and working in small groups

Further develop their skills and knowledge of surf awareness/surfing

Further develop their skills and knowledge of snorkelling

Although the main focus of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award is expeditioning, all Land’s Edge Programs include a curriculum based component. This will be implemented in the journal with the main areas of focus being:

A brief history of human interaction with Murramarang

Long and short term human impacts on the area

Aspects of the investigation will be drawn from the following Syllabus Outcomes:

5A2 Changing Australian Environments

5A3 Issues in Australian Environments

E1 Environments at Risk

Through the application of the Land’s Edge Philosophy, innovative programming and completion of the journal, students will have the opportunity to draw upon the following Aesthetic/Personal Growth/Community Outcomes:

The journal will contain a selection of readings, thought provoking philosophical questions and curriculum based tasks for the students to complete.

This material will be developed in conjunction with the school staff in order for the students to cover areas of school community relevance.

Certain areas will encourage student sketches, ideas or own writings, song lyrics or poetry etc.

Students will be broken into smaller expeditioning groups and will have a Group Leader and Assistant to help guide the students through the week. A school member of staff will also accompany each group.

Being an expedition based program students will be responsible to a large degree of the sequencing of the week. Each small group must navigate from camp to camp, preparing meals whilst managing group issues. In order for the students to interact with the environment in different ways, (as well as being great fun), at chosen areas the groups will have the opportunity to participate in a surf awareness session plus a surf and snorkelling lesson. For these activities specialist surf and snorkel staff will facilitate the sessions.