Length: Full Year
Recommended background: It is recommended that students have previously undertaken Outdoor Education
Content:
Through experiential learning and the study of three focus areas — conservation and sustainability; human connections with nature; and personal and social growth and development — students develop skills, knowledge, and understanding of safe and sustainable outdoor experiences in the key areas of preparation and planning, managing risk, leadership and decision-making, and self-reliance skills.
Through the study of, for example, Indigenous, Western, scientific, economic, recreational, and aesthetic perspectives of natural areas, students develop an understanding of the relationships between human actions and decisions, and ecosystems. They critically analyse these relationships to develop positive strategies to contribute to conservation and sustainability of natural environments.
Students engage in direct and personal experiences in a variety of natural environments to reflect on their study of natural areas and their potential to promote personal development, group development, health and well-being, environmental learning, sustainable living, and social justice.
Outdoor activities might include bushwalking, canoeing, rock climbing, and surfing. Outdoor journeys involve human-powered activities between more than one site. Students participate in outdoor activities in natural environments for a minimum total of 9 days in the field. Students undertake at least two journeys. Each journey has a duration of at least 3 days in the field, and must provide opportunities to build self-reliance (under indirect supervision).
Assessment:
Students’ performance will be determined according to the subject’s Performance Standards as outlined in the Subject Outline. Grades A+ to E- will be used for reporting purposes. Students will be assessed on the following: