Recently, two of our Year 8 classes have undertaken the Education Outdoors Odyssey journey at Mt William National Park. Over the coming weeks, the remaining three Year 8 Mentor classes will also have the opportunity to experience this amazing and engaging outdoors classroom program.
Student Max Wilson, has kindly shared his reflections about 8V’s time in the north east of Tasmania.
Students and staff steeled ourselves for an adventurous week with friends where we would work together and use many of our Learner Attributes, including being inclusive, effective communicators, and collaborative in order for us to achieve our goals.
On our second day we hiked up Mount William, splitting into two groups, and reflecting on the wildlife. Carrying up the lunch meant we had to collaborate. The view from the top of the mountain was spectacular, and the 13-14 km hike from the coast was well worth it.
On Wednesday, we packed up the campsite, and loaded their bags into the trailer, ready to go to Woolnorth windfarm. Another of our Learner Attributes, namely curiosity, had us asking many deep and thoughtful questions, and connecting our Term 1 learning in Science to the wind turbines. We got to go inside the turbines, as well as to see them stop when eagles came too close to them. Inside the Visitor Centre, we learned about Mannalargenna, the aboriginal past of the place where the windfarm was built, and the history of the windfarm, including learning many interesting facts about it.
The next day, we went wading at the beach, with many people jumping off the tall sand dunes and sliding down them, and although we urged each other to join in, everyone was respectful of people’s decision if they chose not to. Later in the day, we hiked to Eddystone Point Lighthouse, played games on the beach, and had a rock climbing competition around the granite walls of the lighthouse, with rules that stopped people from going too high.
Friday still held one more surprise for us, after we packed up our campsite and headed to Bridport. The chip wraps that we had were a delectable surprise that we all indulged in and enjoyed massively. We then headed back, handed back our hire gear, and departed, all with a smile on our faces, bestowed upon us by a great week at camp.
Max Wilson
Student
