Outdoor Education

Outdoor Education at St Andrew’s Cathedral School is about the journey.

These journeys allow them to explore our national parks, rivers, mountains and trails and to look beyond the concrete and see the natural world. They are journeys that allow students to discover things about themselves, how life can be challenging, and to develop maturity, grit and character.

The mission of our Outdoor Education programme is: “To challenge and change lives while enjoying time in Creation.” This ties into the school’s vision to inspire students to be passionate, creative learners who embrace the message of Christ and fully develop their abilities to serve others. 

Our programme is one of the largest in NSW, starting with a day camp in Kindergarten and going all the way through Year 10. As students’ progress, they take part in more challenging camps, including wilderness journeys. These trips teach them that life, much like a journey, involves facing challenges. How we react to those challenges is what matters most. The journey-based approach also encourages students to live simply and work together as a community. 

St Andrew’s has its own Outdoor Education department, dedicated to creating safe, engaging, and meaningful programs. Running our own camps lets us link each experience to the school’s core values and Character Strengths, and it builds lasting relationships between staff and students over the years. Each year group’s programme is carefully designed to meet the needs and experiences of those students, helping them grow in different ways. 

The main goal of every camp is to help students develop a deeper understanding of their relationship with their Creator and to appreciate the beauty of nature. This is especially important for St Andrew’s students, who spend much of their time in the city. These camps give students a chance to explore amazing places, face challenges they didn’t expect, and discover their own leadership potential. 

The school owns a campsite called Kirrikee, located in the Southern Highlands. Most of our outdoor programmes take place there, and it’s also where all our equipment is stored. Families can visit Kirrikee on the Family Day held each year in March. 

Outdoor Education at St Andrew’s is designed to challenge students emotionally, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. It’s an important part of the curriculum, and all students are expected to participate. 

For more details about each year level’s Outdoor Education programs, check out our website. We’ll update links to specific camps as planning progresses. 

For more about our Outdoor Education Programme and facilities:

Outdoor Education
Our facilities