Camps and rich experiences

Year 7 – Great Western Explorer

Introduction

The annual Year 7 Great Western Explorer to Lake Burrendong Camp is an extraordinary opportunity for Year 7 to come together and engage in activities and experiences that become a shared memory for the year group. It is through these activities which are central to Normanhurst Boys holistic education and shared memories, that Year 7 can learn cooperation and commitment to each other in a different context to an ordinary school day. The Year 7 Camp is the first extended opportunity for our students to begin to understand the motivation behind “Team Normo” which is central to the effort and commitment made by our Senior students as they work towards their HSC.

The Great Western Explorer to Lake Burrendong Camp is a multi-disciplinary academic and culturally authentic learning experience that immerses students in activities each day that include:

· investigating the geography, flora and fauna of the Blue Mountains;

· traveling through the Central Tablelands farming districts from Orange to Dubbo, NSW;

· visiting one of the oldest farms in Australia at Brucedale hosted by David Suttor for a Welcome / Acknowledgement of Country of descendants of the Wiradjuri Peoples and Brucedale farm ‘day in the life’ talk;

· story-telling and a direct historical connection to Aboriginal history, culture and the great Wiradjuri warrior ‘Windradyne’ on Country near his resting place;

· exercising through physical fitness, fun and self-development activities at the Lake Burrendong Sports and Recreational campus;

· discovering in Zoological seminars and exploring at Taronga Western Plains Zoo;

· learning about the NSW Justice system from time in the Old Dubbo Gaol;

· descending into the depths of Wellington Caves for exciting discoveries in the home of a Marsupial Lion and ‘Mega Chonk’ Skink!; and

· living a life in colonial Australia at the Bathurst Goldfields Museum and a Gold-panning adventure.

Year 9 – 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 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.

Typical itinerary

Day 1

• RYDA Driver Education

Days 2-5

• Lake Burrendong: Relationships, drug awareness, identifying and minimising risky behaviours,  health and physical education