Outdoor Education
At St Andrew's the vision for students is achieved as all strands of education - academic, sporting and spiritual. The body and the spirit are brought together in an environment outside the classroom and the sports oval which is why St Andrew's students up to Year 10 attend camp at Kirrikee, the School's outdoor education centre in the NSW Southern Highlands.
At Kirrikee students are challenged by being away from the comforts of modern life. They learn to relate to an outdoor environment, to rely on each other, to take responsibility, to assume leadership and most importantly, to trust one another and to live and work together as a team.
A typical camp expedition ranges from a few hours for Year 3 students to a six-day trip in the beautiful and rugged Shoalhaven Valley for senior students. Popular activities such as white water canoeing or abseiling provide opportunities for students of different ages to share the excitement of being together in the beautiful NSW Southern Highlands. Occasionally groups may visit local industries and rural-based activities. Students can achieve various Duke of Edinburgh award levels through the Kirrikee programme.
Expeditions create the opportunity to live as part of a small, discrete community where everyone has a part to play. They give scope to realise the value of teamwork and tolerance and to develop leadership skills.
Students undertake map reading, navigation, cooking, rock climbing, abseiling, orienteering and first-aid skills during the sequential year-to-year programme. Activities are rotated so all students have an equal chance to share the responsibility of leadership along with more menial camping tasks.
The Kirrikee experience means students learn about themselves and discover their strengths and weaknesses while tackling problem solving situations that develop organisational and leadership skills and logical thought.
Year 11 students are offered training as Kirrikee Leaders whereafter they attend a Leaders' Camp for training to assist in leading groups of up to fifteen students.
