Outdoor Education
Outdoor Education is studied as an elective and can be accessed at Year 9 and 10.
Through this elective, students examine perceptions of challenge, risk and safety in a variety of outdoor environments. They participate and develop skills in a range of outdoor recreational activities and camps. These activities may include; surfing, bushwalking, canoeing, rock climbing, cross country skiing, wind surfing, snorkelling, mountain biking, sea kayaking and underwater hockey.
They discuss ways to balance risk and safety, and refine and evaluate harm-minimisation strategies. Students examine the concept of adventure in outdoor activities as well as perceived and actual risk. They learn basic first aid skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), water safety and wilderness first aid and survival.
Students explore assertiveness and resilience strategies that could be used in a range of situations.
Students also study human impacts effecting different types of environments, environmentally sustainable behaviour, interpreting and using topographic maps in a range of circumstances.
Students can also access Outdoor Education in the VCE program. Please note:
Units 1 and 2 to be taken in year 10 and units 3 & 4 to be taken in year 11 as this subject cannot be taken by year 12 students due to impact on other studies.
Students investigate the ways humans interact and relate to natural environments. Students consider questions of environmental sustainability and the value of environmental health; particularly in local contexts.
Outdoor and Environmental Studies is relevant to students who wish to pursue further study at tertiary level or in vocational education and training in the fields of environmental tourism, parks management, environmental impact assessment, etc.
UNIT 1: EXPLORING OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES
Students examine ways in which humans understand and relate to nature through experiences of outdoor environments. They develop practical skills and knowledge to help them live sustainably in outdoor environments.
Outcome 1: Describe motivations for participation in and personal responses to outdoor environments, with reference to specific outdoor experiences.
Outcome 2: Describe ways of knowing and experiencing outdoor environments and evaluate factors that influence outdoor experiences, with reference to specific outdoor experiences.
UNIT 2: DISCOVERING OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS
Students investigate nature’s impact on humans as well as the ecological, social and economic implications of human impact on outdoor environments. Students develop a clear understanding of the impact of technologies and changing human lifestyles on outdoor environments. Students also develop practical skills required to minimise human impact on environments.
Outcome 1: Describe the characteristics of different outdoor environments and analyse a range of understandings of these environments, with reference to specific outdoor experiences.
Outcome 2: Evaluate human impacts on outdoor environments and analyse procedures for promoting positive impacts, with reference to specific outdoor experiences.
UNIT 3: RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS
Students investigate human relationships within outdoor environments from an ecological, historical and social context. Students consider a number of factors that influence contemporary relationships with outdoor environments.
Outcome 1: Explain and evaluate how relationships with Australian outdoor environments have changed over time, with reference to specific outdoor experiences.
Outcome 2: Analyse and evaluate the factors influencing contemporary societal relationships with outdoor environments, with reference to specific outdoor experiences.
UNIT 4: SUSTAINABLE OUTDOOR RELATIONSHIPS
Students explore the sustainable use and management of outdoor environments. They examine the contemporary state of the Australian environment and explore issues relating to the capacity of outdoor environments to support the future needs of Australian population. Students learn and apply practical skills and knowledge required to sustain healthy outdoor environments.
Outcome 1: Evaluate the contemporary state of Australian outdoor environments, and analyse the healthy outdoor environments and sustainability for individuals and society, with reference to specific outdoor experiences.
Outcome 2: Analyse conflicts of interest over the use of outdoor environments, and evaluate practices and strategies for sustaining outdoor environments, with reference to specific outdoor experiences.