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Overview
This new course is open to all Year 12 and Year 13 students.
IMPORTANT for enrolling: Students who are interested in taking this course should select L2OED or L3OED in their course selection form, but should then email the Head of Department, Dave Cassaidy (cyd@mtaspiring.school.nz) to express their interest in this option instead.
The Outdoor Education course is intended to allow students to study Outdoor Education without requiring them to attend an extended weekly practical session. This may especially suit students who cannot commit to the extra time required of the Outdoor Pursuits course. Most of the learning will occur within regular school hours, but additional day or overnight trips will be offered intermittently to further develop and apply knowledge and skills learned. Personal and social development, and leadership skills are important themes integrated into the learning programme.
We will endeavour to keep our focus close to the Wānaka township. We will strive to maintain a low environmental impact, so if possible venues will be visited on foot or by bike. Occasionally vans may be used if it is expedient to do so.
This course has a strong emphasis on personal development. Students who take this course should understand that it is not intended to teach them how to perform highly technical outdoor pursuits. It is a slower paced course that will explore a wider range of topics in more depth, as well as the themes related to interpersonal and communication skills.
Weekly timetable
This course will be timetabled as a senior subject, with 4 classroom periods, plus one day a week where lunchtime will be added to an afternoon period to allow for learning activities to take place away from the school. But the expectation is that those lessons will still usually finish at 3.15 (unless arranged prior).
What will I learn?
The course is likely to include:
Tramping: Tramping skills and group leadership skills are covered during a 3 day induction tramp.
Bush survival skills, (eg firelighting, shelter building, crafting, foraging)
Local outdoor activities (eg rogaines, canoeing, coasteering, biking, bushcraft, indoor climbing, river crossing) within short distance of the school will be offered to complement the classroom learning.
Student led activities: Students will learn how to plan and lead outdoor experiences for junior students. They will work under the supervision of qualified instructors to help lead day trips and/or camping trips for students in the William Pike challenge, and/or our HQ students.
Alpine skills: Students will learn about mountain weather, safety and trip planning and then apply their knowledge on an alpine backcountry trip.
Safety management: Risk management concepts and issued related to outdoor safety management will be investigated in detail.
Weather processes and forecasting skills.
Group processes and facilitation skills. Students will learn a broad range of skills and strategies for facilitating group development during outdoor experiences. These will be practiced within the group and further applied during the student led activities.
Outdoor advocacy and change: We will learn about community led efforts to advocate for the outdoors. A group project that supports the aims of an outdoor organisation (eg DOC, FMC, NZAC, Te Kakano) will be developed and implemented by the students.
Special interest topics may be offered depending on interest within the group. Examples may be designing and making outdoor equipment, search and rescue skills, adventure filmmaking, outdoor cooking).
NOTE: unlike Outdoor Pursuits courses, snowsports programmes are NOT offered in this course.
What should I have done already?
There are no pre-requisites.
It is very helpful to have taken L1 or L2 Outdoor Pursuits, but it is not essential.
Restriction
Students may not enrol in Outdoor Education concurrently with an Outdoor Pursuits course.
Assessment
There will be a selection of Outdoor Unit Standards and Achievement Standards (from Physical Education) totalling approximately 20 credits available in this course.
A micture of Level 2 and Level 3 Standards will be offered.
Where does this course lead?
Students may choose to follow up this course by taking Outdoor Pursuits at Level 3.
Please not that this course does not lead to a university entrance (UE) approved Level 3 course.
The interpersonal skills and leadership skills learned will be valuable life skills for students to take into any future roles requiring leadership skills or just self confidence.
Indicative costs
A general course contribution is requested to cover the weekly costs associated with provision of transport, employing additional outdoor instructors, admission costs to public venues, and hire of specialist outdoor equipment.
Overnight or extended trips are optional, and are invoiced prior to the trip.
The indicative costs for Level 2 Outdoor Education are:
Course costs (materials and some transport) $100
The trips below are indicative of what may be offered. Trips will be recommended, but are optional when a cost is incurred.
Induction tramp $100-150 (depending on location)
Bikepacking trip $90
Assisting with Junior student outdoor camp - free
Sea Kayaking to Mou Waho - $100
Alpine trip $150
Other trips may be offered as well, also at additional cost.
Safety
MAC has achieved AdventureMark certification for its Outdoor Pursuits programmes. This is an internationally recognised safety certification that confirms our school meets the highest levels of safety in adventure activities. This certification recognises our school’s long-standing commitment to safety in its delivery of our nationally renowned Outdoor Pursuits courses and applies to rock climbing and abseiling, white water kayaking, canoeing and rafting, mountain biking, canyoning, and alpine hiking activities.
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