• Education Outdoors
  • Education Outdoors
  • Education Outdoors
  • Education Outdoors
  • Education Outdoors
  • Education_Outdoors_7

Education Outdoors

Mission Statement


To provide knowledge and skills in outdoor, environmental, adventure and Indigenous education, in order to prepare Scotch Oakburn College students’ for the personal, social and environmental challenges in their lives.


The Education Outdoors program is an integral part of the Scotch Oakburn curriculum and provides unique opportunities and experiences for all students from Early Learning through to Year 12.


Education Outdoors links the classroom curriculum to the outdoors, and allows students to learn through practical experience, reflection, and discussion. Students are challenged to engage in environmentally-sustainable living practices and to develop key personal and social competencies.


The Education Outdoors program provides a level of challenge and complexity that requires students to be resilient, creative, organised, and resourceful; and it develops the skills required to live harmoniously and sustainably in a dynamic world.


Junior School


The Junior School programs are appropriate to each year level and build on the learning that takes place in the classroom. Students develop their skills, knowledge, and experience in terms of minimal-impact practices, bushcraft, camp cooking, camping, team work, bushwalking, canoeing, navigation, environmental awareness, and sustainable living practices.

Early Learning Centre - ‘Planting the Seed´
The ELC students are involved in a family day at the Valley Campus. Bug catching, photo hunts, damper making, creating artwork, and environmental activities are all included in a fun-filled day.

Prep - ‘Habitats´: All Prep students will be introduced to the Valley environment and be involved in tending the community vegetable garden and other environmental activities on the property.

Year 1 - ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle´: Year 1 students are involved in a one-day program at the Valley Campus. Here students are introduced to environmental issues, bushwalking skills, and team work activities. Students will also help do a clean-up around the environment they visit.

Year 2 - ‘Star Gazers´: Year 2 students participate in a one-night ‘sleep-over´ at the Elphin Campus as an introduction to the Education Outdoors program. Students undertake water testing and also study insects and other local inhabitants of the North Esk River and associated wetlands.

Year 3 - ‘A Sense of Place´: Students in Year 3 attend an overnight program at the Valley Campus introducing them to basic bushcraft, environmental activities, ponding, and animal adaptations. The evening involves storytelling and marshmallows around the community campfire.

Year 4 - ‘Coastal Dwellers´: Students in Year 4 participate in a three day program on the north coast of Tasmania, with a focus on learning about, and caring for, coastal environments. Students work with National Park Rangers and other specialists to develop their knowledge and understanding of the rich coastal biodiversity in the area.

Year 5 - ‘Adventurers and Trekkers´: Students in Year 5 participate in a four day Education Outdoors program at the Valley Campus. The program consists of challenging day walks, low and high rope elements, bush cooking, bushcraft, environmental skills, water activities, and land care projects.

Middle School

Education Outdoors in the Middle School expands and extends the challenges presented to students in previous years. The programs continue to foster skill development, experience, and knowledge with regards to the environment, sustainability, adventure, community living, and personal development.

Year 6 - ‘Adventurers & Explorers´: Year 6 students attend a challenging four day program at Narawntapu National Park on the north coast. Experiences include night-time spotlighting of native animals with Park Rangers, building rafts to travel to a campsite across the inlet, creating art installations on the beach, bushwalking, canoeing, swimming, and learning about the cultural, historical, and indigenous significance of the area. There is also a strong focus on community-living skills, camp food preparation, and remaining positive and resilient in adverse weather conditions.

Year 7 - ‘Valley Life´: Year 7 students visit the Valley Campus in the Fingal Valley for a period of five days at the start of Term One. Year 7 has many new students arriving at Scotch Oakburn College and the program concentrates on socialisation, small group activities, and adventures in their House groups. Many friendships are forged during the camp and it is an ideal way to begin the school year.

Year 8 - ‘Odyssey´: Year 8 students spend seven days at the Valley Campus and surrounding environments. The program consists of a three day bushwalking expedition, Aboriginal fieldwork, low and high rope elements, extensive land care work, campfire storytelling, and a variety of outdoor and environmental activities.

Senior School


These programs take students to remote locations that offer a greater level of complexity and challenge than previous programs. It is in these remote environments that programs foster learning outcomes relating to independence, co-dependence, respect, perseverance, community living skills, increased self-reliance, resilience, and a greater understanding of our responsibilities in the world.

Year 9 - ‘Aurora´: Year 9 students all participate on a five day circuit of the Mersey Valley, traveling on mountain bikes, white water rafts, by foot, and through caves around the Mersey Valley region. All students will also spend the final day at Alum Cliffs participating in a final reflection and an Aboriginal interpretation walk.

Year 10 - ‘Pinnacle´: Year 10 students participate in a five day Education Outdoors program where they choose one of six different programs that occur in term 1 and 3. The programs include white water rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing, seakayaking, bushwalking, white water kayaking, and an environmental program at the Valley Campus.

Year 10 - Leaders Program: Selected students from Year 10 who have undertaken the leadership and peer support training program will be assistant group leaders on a variety of Education Outdoors programs. This will be an opportunity for Year 10 students to further develop leadership skills and assist younger students at Scotch Oakburn College.

TCE Outdoor Education
This off line subject will consist of bushwalking, rock climbing, and kayaking. The program will encompass 50 hours of theory and 100 hours of field experience. Upon successful completion of theory, field experience, an assessment trip, and assignments, students will be awarded and assessed accordingly to TQA and TCE frameworks..

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