Learning Area: Health & Physical Education

Subject Description

Outdoor Education provides students with the skills and knowledge to safely participate in outdoor activities and to respect and value diverse environments.

Outdoor environments have become places of adventure, recreation, relaxation, scientific study, social action and enterprise. They also provide space for connectedness with nature and opportunities for reflection upon the past, present and future. These varying values and approaches generate differing impacts and can cause pressures and tensions between user groups, leading to issues concerning the preservation and sustainability of outdoor environments.

Outdoor Education seeks to enable students to critically analyse these differing relationships, impacts and issues, providing the knowledge and skills to participate in and contribute to a contemporary society.

Accompanying the theoretical component of the subject, students will be involved in two major expeditions allowing them to experience the wonders of the outdoor environment. They will also take on the ‘1000 Steps Walk’ in the Dandenong Ranges National Park as a lead up to both expeditions.

Please note that there is also a cost involved when undertaking this subject. Further information regarding cost can be obtained from the Learning Area Leader of Health and Physical Education.

Historically, humans have modified outdoor environments to meet survival, commercial, conservation and recreation needs. For many, outdoor environments have become places of adventure, relaxation, scientific study, social action and enterprise. Outdoor environments also provide space for connectedness with nature and opportunities for reflection upon the past, present and future. These varying values and approaches generate differing impacts and can cause pressures and tensions between user groups, leading to issues concerning the preservation and sustainability of outdoor environments. Outdoor Education seeks to enable students to critically analyse these differing relationships, impacts and issues, providing the knowledge and skills to participate in and contribute to a contemporary society.

Accompanying the theoretical component of the subject, students will be involved in 2 major camps allowing them to experience the wonder of the outdoor environment. They will also take on the ‘1000 Steps Walk’ in the Dandenong Ranges National Park as a lead up to both camps.

Areas of Study

• The Outdoors
• Camp Preparation
• Navigation
• Nutrition and Cooking

Curriculum Strands

• Personal, social and community health
• Movement and physical activity

Assessment

• Semester Journal
• The Outdoors Diorama
• Navigation Test
• Cathedral Ranges Expedition Assignment
• Risk Management Assignment
• Outdoor Expeditions