Beyond Boundaries
Year 9
Murray River canoe expedition or Mitchell River rafting expedition
Theme: Inclusiveness and leadership
May 2009
The Year 9 program commences in Term 1 with time being dedicated to understanding the requirements of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. All students aim to complete their Bronze Award by accepting a major role in the planning and execution of either a five-day Murray River canoe expedition or a Mitchell River rafting expedition in Term 2. Students are expected to produce written menu plans, route plans and risk management strategies for their Term 2 River trip.
An integral part of this preparation phase is the completion of an overnight canoeing trip on the Yarra River, near Warrandyte, where skills such as waterproofing packs, camp cooking and paddling a canoe are ‘tested' under controlled conditions.
In Term 2, students are given the option to participate in either the Murray River or Mitchell River expedition, depending on the level of challenge desired and student interest. Both programs represent the first time that the girls undertake a true ‘point to point' journey with no return to a central base camp.
Based in the Barmah State Forest, the Murray River program sees each group paddling approximately 16km per day and camping independently by the river each night. Halfway through the program, the students spend the night at a local caravan park, where they are met by the local indigenous officer from the Yorta Yorta people, as well as a farmer from the local region. Students are given perspectives of the area from these two differing viewpoints.
The Mitchell River expedition gives the students the opportunity to participate in a white water rafting expedition on one of south-eastern Australia's last undammed river. Paddling through the exciting rapids in the National Park is a challenging, yet rewarding, experience and students also get to visit the Den of Nargun, a magical spot that has significance for the local Aboriginal people of the area.
Integration of the academic curriculum takes on an advanced form at this level. Students take part in a School seminar day prior to traveling to the Murray and the Mitchell, which raises issues relevant to each area such as the impact of artificially-controlled river flow on native vegetation and native fish breeding cycles, the introduction of feral species, the traditional use of the area by the indigenous people, salinity and the use of water by agriculture.
Students then undertake a unit of study which utilises the river experience to gather information on a relevant topic chosen by their group. Finally, the results of their research are drawn into a multimedia piece of work which is presented formally in the classroom.
Once again, environmental service is also actively pursued through a program of rubbish collection and weeding at campsites along the river. This is run in conjunction with Parks Victoria staff who provide skips and remove the collected rubbish and weeds from the forest.