Kirrikee is the “lungs of our school,” an outdoor education facility on 90 hectares, located in Penrose Forest, Southern Highlands. Our dedicated team of outdoor educators deliver age-appropriate programmes, tours and experiences for all students.
Our programme is carefully designed. Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 attend a suitably age-appropriate outdoor education experience once each year. Each camp aims to challenge, change and encourage students emotionally, relationally and spiritually.
Our programmes teach students skills that can’t be learned in the classroom as we aim to help them mature into well-rounded young adults. Junior School students experience activities such as camping, abseiling, canoeing, high ropes, trekking and mountain biking.
The Outdoor Education programme each year builds on the challenge and skills of the previous year. This sequential programme continues into the Middle School and Senior College. Below is an overview of each year’s Outdoor Education experience.
- Kindy students are introduced to the outdoors and Outdoor Education staff in a fun day spent at Centennial Park and the Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden. Activities include oval games, creative bush play, a nature walk and free play.
- Oatley Park is the venue for the Year 1 long day camp. There they are introduced to a native bush environment and the animals and plants it contains through several activities. They also have a fun time together playing games and in a free play session on the fantastic play equipment.
- Year 2 have a sleepover at school–a night in a tent at St Andrew’s House. They also explore the wetlands of Olympic Park and enjoy time together in the Botanical Gardens.
- In Year 3 the children experience their first overnight camp at Kirrikee. It offers students a chance to get creative in the outdoors, with a kite making session and mini raft races, exploring Kirrikee, playing on ‘Jungle Vines’ in the long house and night games.
- The Year 4 camp builds on the Kirrikee experience and offers more challenges such as milk crate climbing, an introductory rogaine and a scavenger hunt. They also learn some new skills in a bush survival session.
- The Year 5 camp explores the character strength of reflection – we want students to gain confidence reflect on the type of person they are becoming. The programme includes two nights at Kirrikee. Through activities such as abseiling, log rolling, mountain biking and initiatives they will be challenged personally and in their teamwork.
- The Year 6 camp is the final outdoor education programme in the Junior School. It explores what it means to be servant hearted and how that applies to leadership. Students complete a challenging abseil, paddle canoes, work together to complete initiative activities, learn more about creation and participate in a short hike.
The focus in the primary years is to have fun and give these young students a taste of the Australian bush, with time away from the normal comforts and security of home. They also grow in confidence while developing outdoor recreation, teamwork and leadership skills. Time is taken to explore the big questions of life and what the Bible has to say about them. Outdoor Education is considered a very important component of the curriculum.
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