The shaded areas provide a preferred University Pathway.

Course Overview

Through interaction with the natural world, the Outdoor Education ATAR course aims to develop an understanding of our relationships with the environment, others and ourselves. The course is based on the experiential learning cycle of plan, do, review.  Students plan for outdoor experiences, participate in these experiences and reflect on their involvement. Working with others enables students to better understand group dynamics, and enhance their leadership qualities and decision-making abilities, while showing respect for self, others and the environment.

Year 12 Outdoor Education (General)

Course Description:
The Year 12 syllabus is divided into two units delivered concurrently throughout the year.

Unit 3 – Building confidence in the outdoors
Students understand the planning requirements necessary for them to participate in safe excursions and short-duration expeditions. Students participate in outdoor adventure activities where they develop and improve their technical skills, apply appropriate risk management practices to ensure safe participation, and begin to develop survival skills. Weather components, patterns and forecasting are introduced. Students also develop a greater understanding of outdoor equipment use and considerations for selection.Activities includes an extended hiking expedition on Cape to Cape track with an opportunity for some rock-climbing and an environmental project.

Unit 4 – Outdoor leadership
Students consider planning and organisational requirements necessary for them to participate and facilitate a safe but challenging expedition. Students develop and improve their technical roping skills, and apply appropriate practices to ensure safe participation. They continue to develop navigational skills and strategies for responding to an emergency outdoors. Students lead briefing and debriefing sessions and appraise their own and others’ leadership skills. Students continue to forecast weather and apply strategies to minimise human impact on natural environments. They explore sustainability projects and understand human responsibility for the environment. Activities include an introduction to white-water kayaking, river rescue principles and a river expedition from a base camp.