Belonging  –  Independence  –  Mastery  -­‐  Generosity  

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Dunstan High School

OUTDOOR EDUCATION EDUCATION An overview  

Practical activities in the various OE courses include a selection of the following:

• Water safety and lifesaving, kayaking, river-crossing, tramping, challenge ropes course, climbing, skiing/ snowboarding, cross country skiing, orienteering, outdoor clothing manufacture, search & rescue, weather, navigation, equipment, clothing, nutrition & hydration, and risk management

We specialise in Project Adventure problem solving activities and ropes course work to explore teamwork, communication skills, initiative, trust, and responsible behaviour.

Our main aim is to increase students‘ personal and social skills, their self confidence, their teamwork and leadership skills and their employment skills, and this more than anything distinguishes us from OE programmes at other schools.

Outdoor Education (OE) provides a unique opportunity for learning in the outdoors, about the outdoors, through the outdoors, about yourself & others, and for the environment.

What is Outdoor Education? What do you get out of OE?

Adventure  

Spending time reflecting on and discussing activities allows students to improve and become a high performing team while developing significant employment skills

Reflection  

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It’s about the choices we make, the doors that are open to us, and a belief that with support we can do far more than we ever thought we could.  

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Dunstan High School Outdoor Education: An overview

A high percentage of the senior school are in full time outdoor education programmes and a number of Year 11 students study it as a sixth subject. This reflects the popularity of the programmes and the success students have in achieving results. All our courses involve full time study towards level 1, 2, or 3 NCEA and carry the equivalent credit value of any subject that students study at school. Classes are full time at five hours per week. In addition we continue to offer Royal NZ Life Saving Society awards at year 11 and 12 levels. These include Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bar.

International students  Over the years International students have become an important part of our programme with many selecting Dunstan as their NZ school of choice due to our wide reputation for top quality programmes. “Being completely new to New Zealand and Mt Aspiring, I was nervous about going on camp. I am amazed at how well designed and effective the days are. Our group bonded in a way I never would have foreseen. Thank you.”  

Who does Outdoor Education

“I  gained  a  lot  of  confidence  from  it,  I  think  it’s  one  of  the  best  things  I’ve  ever  done  

Confidence  

“You  gain  a  lot  of  respect  for  other  people  and  you  build  a  lot  of  trust.”    

Respect  

“I’ve  learnt  many  things  about  everyone.  I  saw  people  challenging  fears,  people  encouraging  their  teammates,  people  trusting  someone  they  don’t  know.  I  think  people  can  handle  anything  if  they  have  a  

Personal  learning  

“I  would  like  to  say  thank  you  for  this  training.  I  found  it  very,  very  useful  and  it  has  helped  me  a  lot  with  my  confidence.  The  support  was  amazing.”  

Support  

What they say!

“I  have  developed  a  better  ability  to  work  in  a  team.  I  understand  a  lot  more  about  what  a  team  requires  to  function.”  

Leadership  

“Awesome!  This  was  an  original  and  inspiring  training  –  something  I  will  always  remember.”  

Fun  Support  

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Dunstan High School Outdoor Education: An overview

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Year 10 Mt Aspiring Camps Our introduction to the outdoors is a camp for all our year 10 students at Mt Aspiring Lodge. Here we focus on teamwork and the development of good class relationships. Each class is away for 5 days of intensive work. The camp is linked in to the English and Social Studies curriculum and there is considerable follow up to the activities back at school. The camp includes such activities as problem solving, tramping, orienteering, river crossing, outdoor cooking and working together.  

These camps have a 40 year history and generations of students can attest to their effectiveness. For year 10 students it is often the highlight of their year at Dunstan High. Trained year 13 students also act as leaders on these camps, further developing their personal leadership skills and acting as positive role models for the Year 10 students.  

Outdoor Education Courses What happens at each level

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Year 11 Outdoor Education  Our introductory senior level course - this programme focuses on developing teamwork in students and developing their personal skills and confidence. The focus is on doing activities where students are introduced gradually to new challenges. The emphasis is on problem solving activities, teamwork and the challenge ropes course with a particular emphasis on developing positive employment skills. Students also complete an outdoor clothing manufacture unit where they cut and sew a variety of articles of clothing for use in activities later on. This group also takes part in either snowboarding or alpine skiing unit standards at Cardrona Alpine Resort, as well as cross country skiing, and a tramp in the Queenstown area. Climbing is carried out locally near the clock. We are lucky that all our activities can be completed very close to home which helps reduce costs for students.

Dunstan  High  School  High  Ropes  Course  

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Dunstan High School Outdoor Education: An overview

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Year 12 Outdoor Education The year 12 course focuses on teamwork and leadership and has as it’s highlights a five day search and rescue camp based out of Mt Aspiring homestead as well as a two day cross country skiing unit. There is slightly more theory than in the Year 11 course with a focus on navigation, map and compass skills, low and high ropes course, advanced teamwork and risk management. Students complete higher levels of both water safety than in the year 11 course The year 12 course, like the year 11 and 13 courses, are open to any students who want to  take the course. They do not need to have studied the subject previously to be successful but need to come in with the attitude that they are prepared to try something new. Year 13 Adventure Based Physical Education (ABP) This course offers two options. Both options are a combination of outdoor education and physical education. The achievement standard course is aimed at students preparing for university. Students’ study and work towards personal training goals as well as focusing on advanced risk management, cross country skiing and the biomechanics of climbing. The unit standard course involves a combination of the above plus unit standards in outdoor related topics as well as first aid and running problem solving for other students. A highlight of the year is five days of cross-country skiing. This involves an overnight stay at the amazing Snowfarm lodge and an assessment day with other schools completing this course. This group also has a 4 day work camp based at the Mt Aspiring homestead where students are encouraged to give something back to the place in the way of work projects and landscaping. Year 12 Leadership Training We offer all year 12 students a combined peer support outdoor leadership training opportunity. This involves a 1 day training in Alexandra and a 5 day camp at Mt Aspiring where students practice leadership in teams. These programmes are extremely popular with students and the majority attend all of the trainings most of which happen in their holiday period. We have had this programme independently researched on three occasions with outstanding results. Participants past and present have reported: Increased confidence to lead Improvements in feelings of self confidence Increased self awareness of their abilities and strengths Improved interpersonal skills and group cohesion Increased tolerance and understanding of others Increased appreciation of their school Increased awareness of the fragile environment Development of life skills  

Year  11  and  12  classes  spend  most  of  term  one  in  the  water.  We  offer  Life  Saving  programmes  and  certification  with  a  focus  on  effort,  supporting  others  and  teamwork.  

Introductory  kayaking  is  also  offered  as  a  trust  building  and  team  work  exercise  with  the  opportunity  to  then  join  COW  (Central  Otago  Whitewater)  for  more  advanced  training.  Our  students  have  achieved  outstanding  results  nationally  

Water  programmes  

Snowsports  are  a  huge  part  of  the  local  economy  and  offer  a  variety  of  career  paths  and  employment  opportunities.    

At  Dunstan  we  focus  on  cross  country  skiing    -­‐  We  have  a20+  year  history  of  trips  to  the  Snowfarm  and  find  it  offers  a  cost  effective  adventure  opportunity  for  students  in  an  activity  that  is  a  great  equalizer  but  where,  with  dedication  and  effort,  fast  progress  can  be  made.  We  offer  sequential  porgrammes  over  all  levels  of  Outdoor  Education  

Snowsports  

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Dunstan High School Outdoor Education: An overview

 

This is a unique feature of our school with a great history and heritage. If Dunstan High has a tradition then going on camp at Aspiring must be it. It is a place of magic where students often grow and where new friendships are forged and people are appreciated for who they really are. Our low key adventure approach draws people in and allows them to develop and show what they are capable of. Originally the Aspinall farm homestead, this amazing facility has been gifted into a trust by the Aspinall family and has been a key feature for Dunstan since 1969. Building work on the bunkrooms and  landscaping of the grounds is carried out by staff, students, parents and community volunteers - often with donated materials. 20 Years of school work camps followed by 15 years of ABP Camps, landscaping camps and 35 years of working bees have built, maintained and developed the lodge.

Mt Aspiring Homestead  

As well as the usual school leadership opportunities that our training prepares students for, we also have some other unique occasional opportunities: • Multiple school leadership opportunities • Leader on Mt Aspiring Year 10 Camps • Year 13 Assistant leader with the year 11 OE class – 18

credits at level 3 – invitation only for those considering an outdoor career

• Internships for students doing tertiary training in OE activities • Assistant on primary school leadership trainings • Assistant with Youth Worker and community Programmes

Unique Leadership Opportunities

Students  completing  a  high  ropes  element  -­‐  Their  faces  indicate  the  challenges  overcome  and  the  satisfaction  achieved  by  working  hard  to  together  

to  overcome  obstacles  

With  Mt  Aspiring  National  Park  as  our  backdrop  we  can  tramp  and  explore  the  valleys  nearby.  This  stunningly  beautiful  environment  gives  our  students  an  appreciation  of  its  fragility    

Summary of what Outdoor Education offers  

• Variety & fun • Innovation • High achievement levels in Unit & Achievement Standards • Excellent personal and social skill results • Learning transfer • Curriculum related • Part of NCEA level 1-3 framework • National awards available • Leadership opportunities at school and in the community • Opportunities for personal development • Focus on teamwork, leadership and employment skills

All our OE programmes follow the Project Adventure philosophy of adventure for fun and personal development as well as following four key concepts from the Circle of Courage philosophy: we provide a sense of belonging, we offer opportunities for mastery of a skill, we offer opportunities for independence and interdependence, and we offer opportunities for generosity and giving back.

 

   

Our programmes have achieved a number of milestones over the years. These include:  

Programme Recognition

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• “Best Outdoor Education Programme” A national award from Outdoors NZ, obtained in 2004

• ONZ “Outdoorsmark” Safety Audit Certified. We were the first secondary school in NZ to achieve this national adventure safety accreditation standard.

• MOE video: “Making a difference” Year 10 Aspiring camps - used nationally for

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teacher training • Wellington College of

Education and AADYT – two Independent research projects on Aspiring leadership training indicating excellent results

• Conference presentations nationally & internationally

• Ex DHS OE Student Sam Langridge wins the NZOIA Emerging Instructor of the Year award 2008

We  hope  your  son/daughter  will  enjoy  the  course  and  should  you  have  any  questions  regarding  Outdoor  Education  please  feel  free  to  contact  me  by  E  mail  or  phone  

Dunstan High School Contacts

12 Enterprise St ALEXANDRA, Central Otago, 9320

Eric Schusser

HOD Outdoor Education Work Phone 03 4488595 E mail eschusser@dunstan.school.nz

Outdoor Education