Grade 10 students take part in three Enrichment weeks during their school year. In addition to important career-focused workshops, the students also work closely during these weeks with our Outdoor Education Team to undertake the Expedition camp.

The activities are a vehicle for the deeper and more profound development that our students will go through on the journey into adulthood. Students find the Grade 10 Retreat a rewarding and uplifting experience. The emphasis on this residential camp is self-discovery and self-awareness, with a particular focus on emotional intelligence and becoming an adult.

During the Expedition camps, our students are working towards skill sets that will be highly beneficial to them in their adult lives.

• Resilience … demonstrates proactive behaviours in recognition of strengths and weaknesses concerning themselves and team members
• Independence … demonstrates self-management skills throughout the duration of the camp without the need for staff intervention.
• Interdependence … considers and is respectful of the opinions of all group members
• Integrity … routinely considers moral and ethical implications of their decisions.
• Initiative … makes proactive and independent decisions in the interest of individual and group objectives.
• Empathy … recognises that their behaviour can have a positive or negative influence on others and acts accordingly.

Students opt from one of these outdoor activities that take place across the state.

Sea Kayaking/Bushwalking at Lake St Clair

This is a five-day sea kayak and bushwalking expedition through the southern section of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. The trip leaves with loaded sea kayaks from the southern end of Lake St Clair and heads up to Narcissus Hut. The group then puts on their backpacks and walk up to Pine Valley. From there, the group has multiple walking options including heading up to an area called “The Labyrinth”.

Sea Kayaking on the Gordon River

A six-day kayaking expedition on the Gordon River.  Catch the ferry across Macquarie Harbour to the mouth of the Gordon River and paddle upstream camping amongst Huon Pines.  A strong group of paddlers will make it as far up as the last rapid on the Franklin River.  

Tassie Trail Cycle Tour

The week will be spent exploring the Tasmania Trail between Railton and Launceston by bike, mostly on sealed and unsealed roads and 4WD tracks however there will be some single-track riding and rough 4WD tracks, so a mountain bike is most suitable. This trip will be supported by a vehicle. Students are able to bring their own mountain bikes, but they will need to be checked for suitability by the Outdoor Education Department before the trip commences.

White Water Kayaking on the Huon River/Arthur River

The location of the white-water kayaking trips will be largely dependent on recent weather, rainfall and water availability.  These are expedition-style trips that will focus on teaching skills and knowledge so the participants will be able to negotiate their way safely and enjoyably down the rapids.

Students will navigate grade 1-2 rapids in white water specific kayaks, stopping at campsites on the banks of the river.  Areas of development include paddling skills, river reading and safety.

White Water Rafting – Huon River (Location is rainfall dependent) 

This will be a multi-day river trip starting on the Picton River where skills of steering and manoeuvring a raft will be learnt.  The rest of the trip will be based on the Huon River, which has some flat water and rapids up to grade 2.  Students will be encouraged to learn how to steer the raft themselves and to read the river so they may each take a turn at guiding the raft (water level dependant).

Tasman Peninsula Bushwalk   

This is a six-day walk covering approximately 50km.  This is graded as a moderate bushwalk.  The walk will start at Tasman Arch and passes through Fortescue Bay before visiting Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy and concluding at Fortescue Bay.  The walk will utilise parts of the Tasman Coastal Track and the award-winning “Three Capes Track”.  This is a particularly scenic bushwalk, with rugged coastline, eucalypt forests, button grass plains, and spectacular views every step of the way.

Overland Track (Enrichment Week 3 only)

The classic Tasmanian bushwalk.  This is a challenging camp.  It is 67km long and will be walked over 6 days.  This will give us enough time to explore the area without making the days too long.  The track passes through alpine plains, rainforests, mountains, and rivers.  There will be the opportunity to climb Mt. Ossa, Tasmania’s highest peak, plus a number of other peaks along the way.  There are huts along the way which can be used if necessary, however, the students will need to be fully equipped to camp.

Each activity is organised and led by our highly-skilled, specialist staff. Learn more about our Outdoor Education Programme here.