Beyond Boundaries
An integrated outdoor education experience
“A journey of a thousand miles starts from beneath one's own feet”
Lao-Tzu
Outdoor Education at St Catherine's School (the Beyond Boundaries program) provides all students with the opportunity to push their own personal boundaries in a supportive and safe outdoor environment – whether it be rafting down a difficult rapid, hiking through the rugged Alpine National Park or simply spending the night away from home in the Junior years. Girls are encouraged to understand their identity, their community and their relationship with the natural world through a process of physical adventures and guided discovery which extend every student, whilst promoting leadership, strong values, resilience and independence.
All students from Years 1 to 10 participate in the Beyond Boundaries program which is a sequential outdoor experience, allowing girls to be further challenged as they move through the School. The program culminates in a final expedition at Year 10 level, when students are offered a choice of either eight days rafting or walk/canoe at either Wilson’s Promontory, Great South West or Snowy River (rafting), or the 2008 Odyssey, 11 days bushwalking from Thredbo to Mitta Mitta on the Australian Alpine Walking Track. Whatever their choice of journey, much of the organising and execution is undertaken by the girls themselves. In the Senior School, the program has strong links with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme commencing at Year 9 and is an integral component in the St Catherine’s School Leadership Diploma.
The School recognises that students differ in their propensity for spending time in challenging outdoor environments - some girls look for a real adventure experience and others are happy just to spend time away from their more comfortable home environs. In 2008, the program gives girls further opportunity to choose their own level of challenge by offering various levels of difficulty and a range of outdoor locations, meaning every student will find what she is looking for. We are confident that the Beyond Boundaries program will continue to extend students in ways that can not be duplicated in the classroom, leaving girls with a strong sense of achievement and empowerment to strive for the best in all that they pursue.
Risk Management
For specific risk management information for parents please click here.
For more information on the Beyond Boundaries program contact:
Ben Lovell (Director of Outdoor Education & Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator)
Tel: (03) 9828 3057
Email: blovell@stcatherines.net.au
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