Year 9 Outdoor Education Programme

The 2011 Year 9 Outdoor Education programme commences on Monday 3 October (the first day of Term Four). Click  for more information >

The Value of Outdoor Education

In today's modern world where there seems to be an increase in:

• Urban compaction and close living
• Academic focus and social busyness
• Sedentary life styles
• Pace of change and technological advancement...

In the same world we face a decrease in:

• Extended re-creation time
• Reflective time & time out
• Connection to our natural environment
• Community interaction in our local area

The Outdoor Education Programme at Trinity Anglican School seeks to actively address some of the above concerns from Years 2-12 via a range of sequential experiences right through a student's life at TAS. Both national and international research has found that lasting change to core behaviours in students occurs more deeply, and is more long lasting with programs over 5-7 days long. This research lends weight to the inclusion of our schools flagship programme over nineteen days in Year 9.

These programmes utilise as its core tools and experiences:

• Remote camping & hiking expeditions
• Canoeing and canoeing expeditions
• Community service environmental work and social connection
• Communal living with real consequences
• Structured, supportive and safe challenges
• High & Low challenge ropes courses
• Abseiling
• Initiatives and team challenges
• Rock climbing

These tools and activities seek to develop in students:

• A strong positive social identity
• True self confidence
• Independence followed by social/community interdependence
• Seeing the benefit of Challenges
• Self reliance
• Personal growth
• Insight
• Teamwork
• Environmental appreciation

These lofty goals are achieved through:

• Utilising the tremendous natural locations around North Queensland
• Having professional Outdoor Education staff employed at TAS to ensure high standards, safety and outcomes for students and parents
• Utilising local professional Outdoor Education contractors to add value to programmes
• A constant commitment from the school to promote and value these outcomes

Outdoor Education at Trinity Anglican School is a sequential, holistic, challenging and dedicated programme focussed on growing students through new experiences in the outdoor environment.