Vision
Developing self aware, socially capable students who can collaborate to solve and resolve problems.
Intention
The intention of the Capalaba State College Outdoor Education program is to extend learning beyond the classroom at key junctures in a student's school career. School camps and activity days provide amazing opportunities for students to engage in learning outside the classroom and away from traditional curriculum.
These activities focus on developing students social and emotional awareness and capability. Students learn to work together, build strong and lasting relationships, challenge themselves, and develop social skills which will serve them in their careers beyond the school.
Students will be engaged in situations that push their boundaries whilst still remaining safe. For some students, this is abseiling down a cliff or tower, challenging their fears. For other students, it is physically pushing themselves in high energy situations like carrying stretchers, pulling heavy loads, or wading through mud pits.
There are students who will challenge themselves in team building activities, having to work together with others and put forward their ideas. The variety of activities are designed to challenge as many students as possible and develop lasting skills and abilities.
Camps and activity days also allow teachers and students to get to know each other without the normal constraints associated with at-school learning. Without the stress of pushing curriculum learning and classroom behaviours, students and teachers can start to understand each other and strengthen relationships which will then benefit learning on the return to school.
Links to the Australian Curriculum
Capalaba State College's outdoor education program is linked to the Personal and Social Capabilities from the Australian Curriculum. Each camp has a specific focus, and is designed to develop students in the following areas:
- Self awareness – Personal and emotional awareness and reflective practices
- Self management – Goal setting, emotional regulation, perseverance and adaptability
- Social awareness – Empathy, relational awareness, and community awareness
- Social management – Communication, collaboration, leadership, decision making, and conflict resolution
Safety, Permissions, and Due dates
Camps and activity days are safe, however they do involve activities which involve risk. The providers that Capalaba State College uses for outdoor education provide comprehensive risk assessments and risk management strategies. The College also uses Department risk assessment and management tools when planning for camps and activity days. Camps have teacher supervision, as well as instructors which are provided by the outdoor education facility.
For students to attend a camp, we require parents to provide permission and payment before the due date. Planning a camp requires coordination with bus providers as well as outdoor education providers who need to know numbers in advance for catering, student grouping with instructors, scheduling activities, accommodation, and more.
Permission is provided through our school student information system – Daymap. A message will appear in your inbox with details of the camp and a button to approve, or not approve your student attending.
Invoices for payment will be sent by email to the first parent listed on a student's profile.
For a student to attend, we need both permission and payment on or before the due date.
Camp Costs
Capalaba State College does not make money from camps. All costs for camps are directly from the costs of the transport and camp providers. The cost of the previous year's camp has been included below, however camp costs can vary quite a bit depending on the number of students attending, bus costs, food costs, etc. The intention of providing last year's costs is to give families a general idea on what to budget for in the coming year. Centerpay payment plans may be available, however these must be finalised (all payments completed) by the due date. Please contact the office if you would like more information about this.
Year Level Programs
Year 5 Camp
The Year 5 camp is a 3 day, 2 night, which is often the first time that students are staying away from home and away from their parents and carers. On this camp, students develop their social interaction skills, improving emotional awareness of others and learning to communicate more effectively with each other to solve problems.
This develops students in the Self Awareness and Social Awareness aspects of the Personal and Social Capabilities of the Australian Curriculum.
In the past, this camp has cost families around $310.
Year 7 Friendship Day
This is a single day activity timed at the start of the year for year 7 students. The focus on this day is to build friendships between students. Capalaba State College has students joining the high school from many different schools (20+), not just our own primary school. This day enables students to form social groups, and get to know each other. As this element of social development is so important for the first year of high school, the College pays for all students to attend this activity day.
This develops students in the Self Awareness and Social Awareness aspects of the Personal and Social Capabilities of the Australian Curriculum.
Year 7 Camp
The year 7 camp is a 3 day, 2 night activity which focuses on extending relationships, building new relationships and fostering independence in students. This camp provides students with an opportunity to get away from home, away from mum, dad or carers, into an environment were they are given some responsibility. Students will be given some direction, but have to manage their own engagement in activities, their social interactions, and preparation for activities.
In the past, this camp has cost families around $450.
This camp develops students in all four of the Personal and Social Capabilities, but focuses on Self awareness and Self management.
Year 9 Camp
The year 9 camp is a 3 day, 2 night activities which focuses on social development, team building and collaboration. This camp provides students with challenges aimed at building their capability to engage with each other to collaborate on solving challenges. There are opportunities to push their comfort zones and conquer their fears whilst learning to create and maintain a supportive environment.
This camp develops students in all four of the Personal and Social Capabilities, but focuses on Social Awareness and Social management.
In the past, this camp has cost families around $350.
Year 11 Leadership Camp
The leadership camp focusses on taking our prospective school leaders, the year before they move into their final year of school, and develop their awareness and ownership of their decisions as well as strengthening their communication and collaboration skills. Students on this camp will be pushed both physically and mentally as they navigate physical challenges which require teamwork and collaboration.
This camp develops students in all four of the Personal and Social Capabilities, but focuses on Self Management and Social management.
In the past, this camp has cost families around $340.