The Outdoor Education programme at St Andrew’s Cathedral School is one of the largest and most comprehensive of any school in NSW. The camps are compulsory, with every child participating in the Year group programme between Years 7 and 10. Camps in Years 7 and 8 are based on and around the school’s outdoor education property, Kirrikee, located in the Southern Highlands.
Our outdoor education programme seeks to bring about a reconnection with our natural world, providing students with the opportunity to explore some amazing places, while also being challenged beyond what they may have thought they could manage. Students also have the opportunity to experience and demonstrate leadership skills.
Our programme provides a wide range of diverse, age-appropriate experiences in the outdoors, with each year’s experiences leading to more challenging ones in subsequent years. Year 8 will attend five-day programmes in Term 2. In Year 9, we offer two different camps, including a unique snow programme, where students spend five days camping in the snow, learning how to build igloos, snow caves and being taught cross-country skiing. The other option is a canoe trip along the Murray River.
Year 7
The focus is on a five day camp that encourages students to build new relationships and try new outdoor pursuits around Kirrikee, including caving, abseiling, hiking, bush cooking, and initiative games.
Year 8
Students participate in a four day hike and canoe journey through Kangaroo Valley and a day of Kirrikee activities, such as the Kirrikee High Ropes course.
Year 9
There is a choice of exciting programmes: backcountry skiing and camping, canoeing on the Murray River or cycling the Victorian High Country Rail Trail.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
Students from Year 8 are encouraged to join in this programme, which involves learning skills, developing interests, undertaking service and the planning/undertaking of expeditions. The programme culminates in the Gold Award, which is highly recognised within employment as an outstanding achievement in its own right.
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