EOTC (Outdoor Education)

Education Outside the Classroom at St Dominic's College

Year 7 EOTC

Low Ropes Course:  Students are taken outside the school environment and given a set of challenges that requires the group to work together as a team, trust and support others in their group, problem solve and persevere in an attempt to achieve a goal.  The course is lead by Year 12 Outdoor Education students at the UNITEC high and low ropes facility.  This is an opportunity for Year 7 students to get to know their classmates outside the classroom environment.  It also introduces them to some senior students who they can turn to back at the College. 

Beach Education:  Water is a dominant feature of New Zealand's landscape and many Kiwi's spend much of their recreational time in, on, or by the water.  New Zealand has one of the highest rates of drowning in the developed world with it being the 3rd highest cause of accidental death (Water Safety NZ). Many of NZ's beaches are dangerous surf beaches and Kiwi kids need to develop their knowledge and understanding of the hazards associated with these environments.  Beach Education and survival are therefore an important part of the Physical Education Curriculum it promotes confidence and develops knowledge and skills to allow safe participation in the aquatic environment with special focus on NZ’s surf beaches.

Year 8 CAMP

Each year we take the Year 8 group to Finlay Adventure Park on Lake Karapiro for four days of adventure, challenge, problem solving and communal living.  It is a time to enjoy what New Zealand’s environment has to offer with the likes of tramping, and kayaking.  Other activities include rocket rides, go karting, animal survival which usually involves lots and lots of mud!!!  There is also the opportunity for students to shoot down the hydroslides, or ride the flying fox.  

·         Year 10  CAMP

As part of the “Education Outside the Classroom” component of the Health and Physical Education curriculum, the Year 10 students have a four day, three night camp at Hunua Falls Presbyterian Camp and Kokako Lodge in the Hunuas.  We utilise 2 cabin sites within 500m of each other to run the camp.  It is an action packed week where students rotate around a range of activities including:  Archery, low ropes, high ropes, rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking, orienteering, tramping, raft building and mountain biking.  Students are challenged to step out of their comfort zone and persevere during challenging situations.  It is a chance to develop both physically and socially, by living together with a diverse group of people in a communal environment where everyone is expected to chip in with duties and respect the feelings of all people. 

Year 12 Level 2 Outdoor Education Course

The year 12 Outdoor Education programme is an exciting and challenging course that is aimed at developing strong, confident and independent young women who often become future leaders at the College.  The course assesses against accredited Physical Education Achievement Standards (16 Credits) and Outdoor Education Unit Standards (9 Credits) giving the students the opportunity to gain a total of 19 Level 2 and 6 Level 3 NCEA credits.  Although we use Physical Education achievement standards the units are outdoor education based.  The course consists of 4 units of work. 

1) Learning to Lead-An Introduction is based around giving students the knowledge, skills and resources in which to lead a group of Year 7 students safely on the Low Ropes Challenge Course at UNITEC. 

2) Made to Move: The Mechanics of Physical Activity develops students scientific and technological knowledge in relation to how the body’s bones, muscles and tissue work together to produce movement during physical activity.  This unit can have both a sporting an outdoor education focus and in the past this has often been related to Rock Climbing. 

3) Camp Leader involves preparing students to be confident assistant leaders during Year 10 camp based at Hunua Falls in South Auckland. 

4) Exercise Know How is based around understanding how the body responds to exercise and the benefits of having an active lifestyle.  It gives the girls the knowledge of how to set goals, and plan, implement and evaluate their own fitness programme.

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