The Outdoor Education Programme fosters student learning through our key areas of leadership, community, exploration, ecological literacy and physical & emotional challenge.

The programme offers participants a sequential progression of physical and cognitive challenges that are matched to their level of development. As students engage with these challenges they discover a great deal about their perceived limitations, capabilities, self-concept and independence.

It is strongly held that in learning to deal with change, uncertainty and perhaps self-doubt that may arise during their Outdoor Education programme, the girls learn valuable coping strategies and build resilience that can be useful in their day-to-day living.

Students will also be encouraged to make decisions based on an assessment of needs versus wants. This prioritising and filtering offers immediate consequences and benefits during their time on the programme and develops skills that will be vital in dealing with the broader issues that confront contemporary society as a whole.

Students have a number of Outdoor Education experiences available to them:

Year Programmes

Year Programmes are compulsory for all girls in Years 2 to 10.

  • Year 3 – ‘School Sleepover’, Students sleep in tents on School grounds. We keep it simple with some games after-school, BBQ dinner and more games in the evening.
  • Year 4 – ‘Urban Adventure’, Year 4 students will have a two-day Outdoor Education programme at Lake Lechenaultia. Students sleep in tents, participate in water and land based activities and begin to develop team work.
  • Year 5 – ‘Moray’, a three-day programme based at Scotch College’s Outdoor Education Centre, ‘Moray’, near Dwellingup. Students spend time amongst the Jarrah and Marri trees in tents, learning to interact with this environment.
  • Year 6 – ‘PLC’s Got Talent’, this programme includes three nights in tents, first use of a Trangia stove (cooking pasta), plus initiative games, kayaking and environmental activities. The programme is held at Scout Camp (near Busselton).
  • Year 7 – ‘Building Confidence’ features four nights in tents at Wellington National Park, as students learn to interact confidently in a new natural environment. It is about the students adventuring out into the forest exploring and learning new skills. The programme is designed to challenge the students with new experiences during their time away from school.
  • Year 8 – ‘Having a Go’ is four nights in tents in Leeuwin- Naturaliste National Park. This programme begins the transition from base-camp structure (the programme based largely at one location) to more expedition-style camping (multiple campsites, with groups moving frequently during the programme). The programme runs over six days in the Margaret River region and includes mountain biking, caving, surfing, hiking and Indigenous culture.
  • Year 9 – ‘Empowerment’. Building on the skills they have developed in earlier years, students will learn to operate as a cohesive group as they expedition through Walpole-Nornalup National Park. Leadership will be emphasised as the group will be expected to manage their own daily tasks whilst supporting each other to succeed on the expedition.

Co-Curricular Options

Co-curricular Outdoor Education options run on a term-by-term basis and are available to all girls in the Senior School.

Activities include surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, bouldering, abseiling and sea kayaking.

Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

PLC students have the opportunity to complete the internationally recognised Duke of Edinburgh Award. Girls in Years 9 to 12 are able to work toward their bronze, silver or gold award, developing their leadership skills, improving their fitness, contributing to the community and experiencing an adventure along the way.

Students are able to personalise their own programme, completing four mandatory sections from the following choices:

  • Physical Recreation – sport and fitness
  • Skill – learn a new skill
  • Voluntary Service – connect with the community
  • Adventurous Journey – a journey into an unfamiliar environment
  • Residential Project (Gold Award only) – live and work in a place of need in Australia or overseas.

 

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

PLC students have the opportunity to complete the internationally recognised Duke of Edinburgh Award. Girls in Years 8 to 12 are able to work toward their bronze, silver or gold award, developing their leadership skills, improving their fitness, contributing to the community and experiencing an adventure along the way.

Students are able to personalise their own programme, completing four mandatory sections from the following choices:

– Physical Recreation – sport and fitness
– Skill – learn a new skill
– Volunteering – connect with community
– Adventurous Journey – a journey into an unfamiliar environment
– Residential Project (Gold Award only) – live and work in a place of need in Australia or overseas.