Senior : Outdoor Education and School Tours : Yr10 Camp - Nov/Dec 09

Term 4 sees all Year 10 students attending expedition and community service experiences. The program offers a broad range of experiences to the boys while meeting the curriculum requirement for outdoor education. All Year 10 students are required to attend this compulsory camp and service element in November/December, to be held in the Kosciuszko National Park. The location is stunning, rich in history, culture and adventure. It is an opportunity to be grasped with both hands.

NOTE:  The boys are required to take their own food with them.  Please download the information below to help plan the best possible meal solution that sees plenty of nutrition for maximum energy but with minimal size and weight for carrying and minimal residual packaging and rubbish.

Photo courtesy of www.snowymountains.com.au

Letter to Parents
Medical Form
Equipment List
Proposed Menu

Expedition:

Annual camp

Age Group:

Year 10

Date:

Departure time:

Return time:

Monday 23 to Friday 27 November for half the Year group and...
Monday 30 November to Friday 4 December for the other half.

On both Monday mornings is 5.40am - Woodville Ave

6.30pm - Pacific Hwy on the Friday's, traffic willing

Location:

Kosciuszko National Park

In association with:

Land's Edge

Cost:

Included in the annual outdoor education levy
to be billed to each student's account, 1/3 each in January, April and July

Contact:

Mark Trollope:  trollopem@knox.nsw.edu.au

Menu planning:

Sample menu
Special note:  Please be aware there is a chance that a total fire ban will be implemented in the area being visited. If this does eventuate, boys will be asked to prepare cold evening meals rather than ones which require heating on the Trangia stoves. As a precaution, boys are asked to plan at least TWO evening meals that can be eaten hot or cold (e.g. burritos).  The boys will use the SCECGS High Country Campus as headquarters for the camp and will be able to prepare hot dinner meals there during that phase of the expedition but when out in the back country, cold evening meals may be required.

Program Outline - Activities and experiences students will participate in are:
• 8 groups will undertake a 3½ day traverse of Australia’s highest peaks including Mt Kosciusko
• 2 voluntary groups of boys who wish to extend their current experience by undertaking a 5 day traverse across the peaks
• An overnight solo
• General alpine survival skills
• A National Park service component

Students will be on a solo experience for 1 night (based at our HQ centre) and bush camp sites for 3 nights. Whilst on the expedition there will be little or no contact among groups.
Program Outcomes - Students will have the opportunity to develop the following skills or themes:
• Small group living
• Personal and group responsibility
• Action and consequence
• Navigation, route planning and route finding
• Food planning, preparation and camp cooking
• General bush skills
• Alpine safety

The weather conditions in the Snowy Mountains region should never be underestimated. It is essential that boys have appropriate clothing and footwear for walking in alpine environments. Conditions can fluctuate from sunshine to sleet in a very short period of time and the surfaces walked on can be most uneven, boggy and slippery. Running shoes or Dunlop Volleys are not suitable and could cause serious injury and problems for participants. Should you need advice / help in the purchase of equipment, please feel free to contact me at the above address. In line with our duty of care, Knox will carry a stock of basic essential items (e.g. thermals, fleeces, beanies...) and distribute them to boys that lack them at the beginning of the program. The cost of the item will then be added to parents’ bills. To assist in the equipping of students, each boy will be supplied with a Gortex rain jacket if required.
Another important element that has been built into the experience is that the boys will plan, provide and purchase their own food for the whole time they are away. This means food for the journey to and from Jindabyne as well as catering for all meals from departure until return. The boys will be expending large amounts of energy, so should supply generous quantities of nutrition to meet the physical demands and changing weather that can occur. An example of a menu has been added to the Year 10 Camp area of the Knox Outdoor Education webpages. Foods that perish quickly or that are bulky are not a good idea.
Please ensure that the Medical and consent forms are returned to your son’s Tutor by Friday 30 October 2009. Please fill in all forms (even with ‘N/A’). Should you have any questions or concerns about either program please contact me by email or by phone.