CBC St Kilda has an extensive in-house Outdoor Education Program. Students from Years 7 to 10 participate in compulsory programs each year, while older students can continue to engage with new environments and adventures through specific subjects or extra-curricular events.
Our in-house program is unique and a great benefit in a school the size of CBC. Students have a full time Outdoor Education teacher in the school to build a relationship with over their secondary school journey - they are not sent off to an external camp for a one-off experience. Special needs can be catered to and students can grow and engage with new environments and experiences that are directly linked to the Victorian Curriculum, and have cross curricular links to other work back at school. Older students have a specialist teacher in the school to engage with, while the teacher can run extra activities for students.
Year 7
Year 7 students have six programmed days. Early in Term 1 they have a four-day Surf Camp. This Program is run early in their CBC lives to provide both an introduction to one another and the College. Over the course of four days the students will participate in surfing, mountain bike riding, beach games, camping out, camp cooking and many other camp activities.
In Term 2 we continue to explore our natural environments close to Melbourne with an orienteering and mountain bike day at Westerfolds Park, learning practical navigation skills and teamwork.
Finally, in Term 4, the students experience a white water rafting day on the upper reaches of the Yarra River. This fun day out involves some introductory rapids and wildlife spotting in a beautiful area close to home.
Year 8
Year 8 students have five programmed outdoor days. In Term 2, the Year 8 Camps take students to the Avon Mount Hedrick Scenic Reserve. Students are challenged with a three day hike through a beautiful sub-alpine region. To add another dimension to the program students also get a chance to enjoy the fantastic network of trails within the Blores Hill Mountain Bike Park.
In Term 4 the fun continues as students visit the You Yangs. Foundation skills developed in Year 7 are expanded as students complete another orienteering course and explore the Kurrajong Mountain Bike trails.
Year 9
Year 9 students continue the community-focused work started at the Balaclava campus. They complete a four day journey down the remote and spectacular Mitchell River in Gippsland. This journey promotes community living and a sense of teamwork as students are challenged to navigate rapids together in their raft.
Along with personal learning, we increase the amount of environmental learning by considering the place we are travelling through, its role in the world and how we fit in. Discussions consider land management, water use, climate and the changing future world.
Year 10
The Outdoor Education and Health and Physical Education Departments work closely together at Year 10. Students can choose from one of four Physical Education subject options, including one with a strong focus on Outdoor Education. Students engage with content that draws from the National Training Package in Outdoor Recreation while also building knowledge in Environmental Education.
Senior Years- VET Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation
As part of the Inner Melbourne VET cluster CBC students in both VCE and VCAL can select the VET Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation Course. Like all VET courses this is run externally on a Wednesday afternoon. The course explores working in the Outdoor Recreation field. There are a number of great employment and travel options in Outdoor Recreation, from working in Ski Resorts to Adventure and Travel Guiding. The course develops practical outdoor skills and valuable workplace skills and knowledge. Students complete the course with level two proficiency and experience in a range of outdoor activities.
Extra-Curricular Options
In addition to the core curriculum all CBC students have additional options to recreate outdoors including an annual Great Victorian Bike Ride and a Mount Buller Ski Trip.
