Camps and rich experiences

Week long camps to enrich the student learning experience

Students at Normanhurst Boys High School are involved in week long cross-curricular learning experiences. In additional to the opportunity for the rich tasks and hands-on multi-disciplinary learning these create, they also provide the boys with opportunities to bond together and make lifelong friends. These camps are experiences which the boys will never forget.

The Year 7 Camp to Jenolan Caves is reportedly the longest running camp within any government school, having run every year (except for one year) since 1959.

Camps conducted in various year groups

The following camps have run in the past.

Year 7

Bathurst and Jenolan Caves

Western Explorer

Year 8

Geography and Science at Bungarra Alpine Centre

Year 9

Northern Explorer to Mid-North Coast and Hunter Region

Year 11

Lake Burrendong Crossroads and driver education program

Year 7

Year 7 – Central West NSW and Jenolan Caves

Introduction

Each year, students in Year 7 are taken on an excursion to the Central West of NSW and to Jenolan Caves. The Jenolan Caves excursion has proven to be one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences for the students of the school.

Students spend the first night at the Bathurst Sheep and Cattledrome and then three nights at Jenolan Caves. During the week, they visit Scenic World at Katoomba, relive the past at Hill End and explore around and in the caves at Jenolan. The high point of the excursion is the time spent viewing the show and adventure caves themselves.

The experiences on the excursion, apart from the importance in the personal and social development of the student, are related to school work in all faculty areas. The academic component is complemented by the lessons that students learn in being part of a group, in making friends and in co-operating and being tolerant in a variety of situations. The year 2019 will mark 60 years of association between Normanhurst Boys High School and Jenolan Caves.

A brief history of the Jenolan Caves excursion (PDF 55 KB) is available.

Typical itinerary

Monday

Scenic World Katoomba
Bathurst Sheep and Cattledrome – activities and accommodation

Tuesday

Sofala – Town walk and study
Hill End – Activities
Jenolan Caves – accommodation

Wednesday to Thursday

At Jenolan Caves

Adventure caving
Show caves
Bookwork and research component
Video filming and rich task
Walks and recreational activities
Formal Dinners

Friday

Depart Jenolan Caves, arrive school at approximately 5 pm

Year 8

Year 8 – Bungarra Alpine Centre

While primarily a HSIE-focused experience, opportunities are taken to involve facet of learning from across the curriculum.

Typical itinerary

Day 1

Questacon Canberra: Science investigation
Bungarra: National Parks Ranger Address and learning focus

Day 2

Bungarra: Half day Mountain Bike Session
Lake Jindabyne: Half day Raft Building Session

Day 3

National Parks and Wildlife Service Education Unit and Blue Lake case study: Australian Geography field study and field work

Day 4

Full day hike and geography investigation.
Group activities after dinner

Day 5

Trout Hatchery and tour: aquaculture and industry investigation
Cooma: Snowy Hydro-electricity site investigation

Year 9

Year 9 – The Northern Explorer, a multidisciplinary learning experience

Key learning areas

History

Morpeth Historical site: Continuity or change investigation

Geography

Field activities to undertake empirical studies to substantially enhance classroom learning.

Technolgy and applied studies

Historical development of the timber and building industry in relation to the built environment that was colonial Australia. To track the coal industry from mining to transportation overseas by ship and its importance to our economy.

Science

Field activities to observe and describe geological and ecological aspects of Nobby’s Head and Port Macquarie.

Mathematics

Activities related to demonstrating applications of Mathematics to the physical environment.

Personal development, health and physical education

Exercises, training the Boys in Surf Life Saving and swimming safety skills at Nobby’s Beach, Newcastle.

Typical itinerary

Day 1

Education program at the Hunter Wetlands Centre
Fightertown Museum at Williamtown RAAF Base

Day 2

Timbertown: History and TAS investigation
Port Macquarie: Treetop boardwalk at the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre: Aboriginal perspective focus on history and the environment

Day 3

Vineyard visit: Geographical Industry Study on tourism, viticulture and the economy.
Hunter Valley Coal Industry Study: open cut mine visit and investigation
Historic Village of Morpeth

Day 4

Students visit Newcastle city.

Nobby’s Beach for Surf Lifesaving Program
Nobby’s Headland study and a guided tour of the
Port Waratah Coal loading facility on Kooragang Island

Day 5

Port Stephens: Stockton sand dunes eco safari: geography and tourism industry focus.
Dolphin Watch cruise

Year 11

Year 11 – RYDA Driver Education and Crossroads

Students commence the Year 11 camp program with the RYDA driver safety program on the Monday before departing for Wellington in Central West NSW.

The camp component is situated in the mid-west of NSW on the shores of Lake Burrendong. Students take part in a number of recreational activities including low and high ropes, indoor rock climbing, an initiatives course and archery as well as being involved in the Crossroads program which addresses welfare issues which will assist them in the years ahead.

All government run secondary schools are required to deliver the Crossroads program for a minimum indicative time of 25 hours. Crossroads is designed to help senior students address issues of health, safety and wellbeing at a time when they face significant changes and challenges in their lives. It aims to prepare and support these students as they encounter situations related to identity, independence and their changing responsibilities.