outward bound school programs - parliament of victoria · outward bound school programs typically...

Program Overview

Outward Bound School Programs Parliamentary Submission – July 2009

Sean Powell

Partnerships Manager, Victoria

73 Wellington Street

Collingwood VIC 3066

[email protected]

www.outwardbound.org.au

Ph: 03 9473 4357 MOB: 0417 434 844

Outward Bound Australia School Programs

School Program Overview

Outward Bound has led the way in experiential outdoor education in

Australia for over fifty years. The organisation is recognised worldwide as a

leader in providing 'rite of passage' experiences for young people. Our

journey-based programs are powerful foundations for future learning and

life challenges.

An Outward Bound experience as part of a young person's schooling sets

them up for greater success and personal well-being. The results speak for

themselves, making Outward Bound an important investment in each

student's future.

In making this submission to the Inquiry into the Potential for Developing

Opportunities for Schools to Become a Focus for Promoting Healthy

Community Living, we consider our approach to be of a holistic kind:

developing human potential through a combination of physical, intellectual

and emotional challenges experienced in an adventurous journey based

program in a wilderness environment.

The objective of this submission is to firstly discuss both how and where we

operate these programs, and secondly to indicate the success of these

programs based on examples of research. Lastly this submission will indicate

examples of community based partnerships, both with business and

community organisations.


Contents

This document includes the following information:

Nature of Outward Bound programs

Course Objectives

Design Principles

Activities and Learning Outcomes

Locations

Successful Programs

Benefits of Outward Bound programs to students and teachers – Appendices

A&B

Regional Community Partnerships

Conclusion


Nature of Outward Bound programs

Each program is a journey. This means that the groups do not stay at a

centralised 'camp' but rather set out on expedition. Along the way they

undertake the various outdoor activities available in the wilderness they are

journeying through. All groups move independently of each other and in

most cases rarely see anyone else. This creates an incredible sense of self-

reliance and adventure. This feeling of being independent, on a self-directed

journey, forces students to use initiative, resourcefulness and the group's

diverse skills and attributes.

While the groups will learn or reinforce bushcraft skills such as navigation,

building a fire, choosing and setting up a campsite, food preparation and

safe hygiene practices, the real learning is from the challenges faced. The

students will learn about each other, their own strengths and weaknesses and

how to support each other in a setting that is beautiful, but challenging. The

emphasis will be on learning in a safe and fun environment, where the

students are willing to take on new experiences.

The program provides intellectual, physical, mental and emotional

challenges that will stretch the students well beyond what they know.

Leadership and personal responsibility are important parts of each program.

Upon returning to school, the students will be able to take on more complex

and challenging leadership and problem solving tasks. The programs help

equip students for the transition from youth to adulthood and assist in

preparing them for their final years at school, entry into the workforce and

life ahead.


Course Objectives

Personal Development - To enhance self-awareness, self-esteem, confidence,

discipline and motivation, and improve physical fitness.

Teamwork - To enhance appreciation and awareness of other's strengths and

skills. To develop an understanding of the positive attributes of an effective

team including leadership, followship, participation, trust and

communication.

Leadership Development - To develop social awareness, interpersonal skills

and communication skills. To provide group leadership opportunities in

challenging and unfamiliar settings.

Service - To teach the concept of service. To provide opportunities to model

and practise acts of service to others and/or the environment. To develop a

service ethic.

Environment - To develop appreciation for and an awareness of the natural

environment. To develop awareness of minimal impact practices.


Design Principles

Experiential Learning – Learning by Doing. Providing diverse stimulating

activities involving teamwork and problem-solving facilitated to bring out

the best in you.

Safe and Supportive Environment – Providing you the right support,

guidance and belief in your potential so that you can challenge yourself and

celebrate your success.

Adventure and Challenge – Stepping out of your comfort zone to face

mental, physical, social and emotional challenges with a sense of fun and

adventure.

Self-discipline – Allowing you to make decisions, experience consequence,

success and failure, and being accountable for what you say and do.

Skill & Care – Self-respect, using initiative and being resourceful to achieve

to the best of your ability.

Solitude and Reflection – Providing a place apart to appreciate silence,

reflect on your values and set goals for your future.

Minimal Impact Practices – conducting ourselves in environmentally

responsible and sustainable ways.


Activities and Learning Outcomes

Outward Bound has a variety of activities available to students. Each

program includes diverse activities to meet a variety of outcomes. Our

activities include:

Rock Climbing – problem solving, initiative, facing fears, supporting team

members, physical challenge

Abseiling - facing fears, individual challenge, pushing the limits, unique

activity

Raft building - group cooperation, teamwork, communication, different

mode of transport

Expedition - working as a team, learning basic navigation skills,

communication, development of planning and problem solving skills

Teambuilding games and leadership initiatives - fun, creative, short and

sharp exercises to enhance learning in areas such as communication,

leadership, teamwork, cooperation.

Solo - reflect on the experience, time apart from the rest of the group

Bushcook - celebration feast, group social event, planning and organisation

Ropes course - individual challenge, facing fears, problem solving, initiative

Service - group cooperation, instils community values and a sense of

contribution

Rafting/Canoeing - Group cooperation, teamwork, skill and care,

communication.


Locations

While an Outward Bound experience is about the journey as much as the

destination, we offer diverse and inspiring locations from alpine

wilderness to rainforest and coastal environs. We use National Parks

and Private Land in a number of states, following the good weather in

order to deliver the best possible experiences to our students. In each

location, we are committed to community and environmental service

projects that ensure we minimise the level of impact and create

sustainability of these locations for years to come. These areas currently

include:

• Namadji National Park, Tharwa, ACT

• Snowy River National Park, Buchan, VIC

• Toonumbar National Park, Kyogle, NSW

• Kosciuszko National Park, Adaminaby, NSW

• Walpole-Nornalup National Park, Walpole, WA

Successful Programs

Outward Bound school programs typically operate between 5 and 10

days in length, using the activities, objectives and design principles

described above, in our diverse operating locations. Our list of Partner

Schools includes schools that choose to send entire year levels, multiple

years and smaller groups of students as part of an optional outdoor

educational program. Some of our schools are supported through

Outward Bound's Regional Community Partnerships Program . Over 50

years, we have had a large number of partnerships; those listed reflect

our current relationships. These schools have had in some cases

partnerships with Outward Bound extending to 25 years, indicating the

success of the program throughout not just the school, but the greater

community:

State School Partnership

Victoria Beaconhills College

Catholic College Bendigo

Notre Dame Catholic College

Sacred Heart Catholic College


St. Francis Xavier Catholic College

Woodleigh School

Irymple Secondary College

Chaffey Secondary College

Western Australia Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School

Christian Brothers Agricultural College Tardun

Geraldton Grammar School

Great Southern Grammar

Perth College

Penrhos College

Tranby College

The International School of WA

WA College of Agriculture Denmark

Albany Senior High School

Boyup Brook District High School

Bridgetown High School

Bunbury Senior High School

Collie Senior High School

Manjimup Senior High School

Kearnan College Manjimup

Newton Moore Senior High School

NSW Ascham School

Cranbrook School

St. Gregory's College

Marist College Kogarah

Albury High School

St. Joseph's High School Aberdeen

St Raphael's Central School Cowra

Cowra High School

Maitland High School

Francis Greenaway High School

Scone TAFE

Scone Grammar School

Ulladulla High School

Bega High School

Lumen Christi Catholic College

Singleton High School

Muswellbrook High School

All Saints College, St Josephs Lochinvar

Faith Lutheran School

Braidwood Central School

Monaro High School

St Patrick's Parish School Cooma

Coonamble High School

Murrumburrah High School

Boorowa Central School

Young High School

Yass High School

Outward Bound Australia School Programs 10

Braidwood Central School

Queensland AB Paterson College

St. Stephen's College

School of Total Education

Nerang State High School

Coomera Anglican College

Robina State High School

Miami State High School

Upper Coomera Secondary College

Southport State High School

Commbabah State High School

Elanora State High School

Marymount College

ACT Brindabella Christian College

Canberra Girls Grammar School

Marist College

Radford College

Singapore Hwa Chong Institution High School

Outward Bound Singapore


Benefits of Outward Bound programs

Outward Bound partner schools report many benefits not only for their

students, but also their school community. These benefits include:

Benefit to the School Community:

A unique and powerful professional development experience for teaching

staff

Strengthened relationships between students and between students and

teachers, that have a lasting impact beyond the end of the Outward Bound

experience

A powerful rite of passage experience that can become a strong part of the

school's culture

More positive approach to taking on service and leadership roles

Benefit to the Student:

Greater maturity and self-confidence in the classroom

Increased competence in overcoming difficulties (resilience)

Willingness to attempt new tasks

Demonstration of greater initiative in team-oriented settings

Changing negative self-image, stereotypes and limiting beliefs

Increased personal achievement

Gaining deeper understanding, compassion and tolerance for others

Developing teamwork, communication, personal responsibility (right choices)

and initiative

Developing planning and problem solving skills

Assistance in the transition from youth to adulthood.

These benefits are supported by research, specifically the Life Effectiveness

Questionnaire (LEQ). Two of the most recent studies, detailing results of

programs run in May 2009 are attached as appendices A & B. Appendix A

details the results of a Regional Community Partnership with the Mildura

community and the Harry Triguboff foundation, and appendix B details the

results of the National Aspiring Leaders Program, sponsored by The Smith

Family and the Westpac Foundation.


Regional Community Partnerships

Outward Bound is about building stronger communities by inspiring the new

generation. Outward Bound's Regional Partnerships Programs are an

initiative designed to foster growth in communities of regional Australia, and

allows not only the youth of the area but the whole community to benefit

from an Outward Bound program.

How Regional Community Partnerships work

In the first instance, Regional Partnerships begin when a community

identifies problems or opportunities for young people, and that they want

to provide solutions for their young people via greater educational

opportunities in life. This involve the coming together of community

champions who are motivated and willing to take a leadership role in

promoting and coordinating programs at a local level.

There are four key ingredients:

* A community that wants to provide their young people with greater

educational opportunities in life, and has the motivation to get the

program started;

* Community champions who are willing to take a leadership role in

promoting and coordinating the programs at a local level;

* A sponsor willing to assist with the costs of the program; and

* Outward Bound. The Outward Bound program suite is an innovative

set of public open enrolment, education and corporate programs.

Through Regional Partnerships in the initial stages a community is

encouraged to develop scholarship initiatives through public open

enrolment programs. The Community Partnerships Manager and Public

Enrolments team manage this initial process and liaise with the Regional

Partnerships Manager. These programs include:

1. Youth - Navigator (12 days, 16-18 years)

2. Adults - Catalyst, Explorer, Pinnacle and Summit to Sea (from 5 to

26 days, city to the wilderness, for ages 18 -80)


3. Family (9 days) Mother and Daughter, Father and Son, Entire

Families

In the next stage of the Regional Community Partnership Development

process, community action groups, developed in conjunction with the

Partnerships Team, are encouraged to support the development of a

broad based Regional Education Program through the Outward Bound

Foundations (School Year 9 level) Program. Finally Regional

Partnerships are supported in the development of a Regional Leadership

Program and development of a Corporate Program, to assist the Youth

and School based programs with general community learning.

Outward Bound would encourage a community to build a program plan

incorporating active outdoor experiential education opportunities in

conjunction with community groups, the corporate sector, local

government and education authorities as well as local schools. Outward

Bound has a history and a successful structure in place to nurture these

communities and present to them the opportunities available to them

including a funding model, sustainability kit and a program plan.

The Funding Model

Cost is the major obstacle in the initial stages. To assist with this, seed

funding is available through the Australian Outward Bound Development

Fund. It is applied on a tiered basis, and gradually reduced over time.

For example: 80% course costs sponsored in Year 1; 60% in Year 2;

40% in Year 3 and so on. This empowers the supported community to

progressively take on more responsibility for funding their own program.

This is critical to the longevity of the programs as long-term sponsorship

cannot be guaranteed.

History of the Regional Community Partnerships

This significant regional outdoor education initiative began in the Hunter

Valley (NSW) with the Coal & Allied community partnership in 2000. It

has expanded to include Central West NSW, Mildura/Suraysia (VIC),

Northern NSW, Southern NSW, South East NSW, Mid-West WA and

South Western Sydney.

With Regional Partnerships programs now well established, with over

2500 young people from regional communities participating, there now

exists the opportunity to build on the success of the Solid Foundations


program expanding into South East Queensland, Victoria and Western

Australia, followed by South Australia, Tasmania and Northern

Australia.

The Solid Foundations program (pitched around 15 year olds) is

well complimented by Outward Bound's Aspiring Leaders Program

(suited for 16-8 year olds). Communities are also keen to support

broader development and may consider other program options, such as

Navigator, Family, Summit-to-Sea, Pinnacle, Explorer, Catalyst, and

Outward Bound's nationally recognised Cert IV in Outdoor Recreation

'Trained Leaders' Internship Program.

Outward Bound Australia's vision for Regional Partnerships programs is

to foster the development of the youth of rural and regional Australia by

providing experiential learning outdoor education opportunities which

provide a catalyst to help our young people develop important life skills.

In partnership with communities, schools and sponsors, these programs

have enormous potential to work at the root cause of many of our most

problematic social issues.

The elements learned on an Outward Bound course are all critical life

skills for young people growing up in regional or marginalised areas,

who lack access to the same opportunities that most of their peers in the

city have.

Evaluation results from Regional Partnership programs have been very

encouraging. They are above the average of Outward Bound's other

industry-leading outdoor education programs, indicating a significant

change in lifelong learning, and re-inforcing this initiative as a powerful,

practical, effective and positive community development initiative.

At the conclusion of each program Outward Bound performs research

and analysis on participant feedback and provides learning outcome

results through Life Effectiveness Questionnaires.


Conclusion

Outward Bound Australia has aimed to demonstrate in this submission the

physical activities and learning experiences which holistically combine to

deliver outcomes that support healthy community living. The list of schools

currently in partnership with us is an indication of the success of these

programs. Further it can be demonstrated through the attached research

results the impact these programs have on individuals and by association the

communities they return to.

Lastly Outward Bound Australia has shared its Regional Community

Partnership model to demonstrate a successful operational engagement of a

wide variety of community stakeholders throughout Australia.

outward bound school programs - parliament of victoria · outward bound school programs typically...

Documents