St Andrew’s Cathedral School has a strong commitment to Outdoor Education, stemming from the belief that students gain real life skills and experiences as a result of spending time in the outdoors.
The Outdoor Education programme at St Andrew’s is one of the largest of any school in NSW, beginning with a day camp in Kindergarten and running through to Year 10.
The School has its own Outdoor Education department, focused solely on delivering high quality programmes that are interesting, safe and meaningful. Running our own outdoor programmes gives St Andrew’s the unique ability to link camps to the School’s character strengths, that underpin our value system. It also provides a consistent relationship with returning staff throughout the year-groups and the years. Each year-group programme offers a variety of challenges which are tailored to meet the specific developmental needs and experience of those students.
Each programme has a primary goal of enabling every student to develop an understanding of their relationship with their Creator and to marvel at the natural and wilderness areas they visit. We seek to bring about a reconnection with our natural world. This is particularly relevant to St Andrew’s students in their unique urban educational environment. While providing students with the opportunity to explore some amazing places, the students also experience being challenged, often having to go beyond what they thought they were capable of. They experience community, often with students they don’t know, and they have the opportunity to experience and show leadership themselves.
The School owns a campsite called Kirrikee, an outdoor education centre in the Southern Highlands south-west of Sydney. Most of our programmes are run from there and it is where all of our equipment is stored. Families can visit Kirrikee on the Picnic Day which is held annually.
Outdoor Education at St Andrew’s aims to challenge, change and encourage students emotionally, physically, mentally, relationally and spiritually. The Outdoor Education programme is an important component of the curriculum and all students are expected to attend.
Our mission is, “To challenge and change lives while enjoying time in Creation”.
For more information on Year level Outdoor Education programmes please see below or visit our website. Information on specific camps will be added as a link in the sections below. These links will be added and updated as camp planning progresses.
For more about our Outdoor Education Programme and facilities:
– Junior School and Gawura
Kindergarten has a day out at Centennial Park and the Wild Play garden.
Year 1 has a long day ‘camp’ at Oatley Park, and Year 2 spends a day at Bicentennial Park with a school sleepover and time at the Botanical Gardens. For many Year 2 students the sleepover at the school may be their first night away from home.
From Year 3 the students attend camp at Kirrikee. Year 3 and 4 stay there for one night. Year 5 and 6 stay for three days.
Information about Year 5 and 6 camps will be sent to parents well in advance to the camp to allow you time to prepare. This is an example of the equipment required for this camp: Equipment Gear List – Year 5 camp
Our website outlines more about our Junior School programmes:
– Middle School
St Andrew’s Outdoor Education in the Middle School years builds on the sequential design of our programme and introduces wilderness journeys as a vehicle for achieving educational outcomes.
If you have any questions or concerns about the programs, please contact the Outdoor Education Department by email or phone – outdooreducation@sacs.nsw.edu.au or 9286 9500.
The below information is for camps held in 2023, providing a sample of the opportunities students will experience and the type of information that will be made available closer to the camp date:
Year 7 camp in Term 1 runs for 5 days and is based at Kirrikee, Bungonia National Park and the Penrose State Forest. Students build on their roping skills while abseiling at Bungonia (and also explore the cave environments there). They have overnight expeditions in Bungonia National Park and Penrose State Forest.
The information below was recently sent to Year 7, 2024 parents:
Term 2, Year 8 attend a five-day hike and paddle based in Kangaroo Valley with one night spent at Kirrikee. We also run a 9 day Outdoor Adventure Programme in the holidays that starts with a 4 day hike in the Yuraygir NP (near Coffs Harbour) and concludes with a few days at the Gold Coast theme parks and surfing lessons. Year 8 students can either choose the Kirrikee or Outdoor Adventure camps.
Information about the camp will be sent to parents closer to the date to allow you time to prepare. This is an example of the equipment required for this camp: Equipment gear list – Year 8 2023
In Term 3, St Andrew’s offer Year 9 students a choice of different style of camp – Back County Ski Snow Camp, Murray River Canoe Camp and a High Country Cycle Tour. Students will be able to select their preferences for which camp they would like to attend, and we will allocate the students based on these preferences. Students must attend one of these camps.
Information about the camps will be sent to parents closer to the date to allow you time to prepare. Below are examples of the equipment required for these camp:
Canoe Camp – Year 9 Gear List Canoe Camp 2023
Cycle Camp – Year 9 Gear List Cycle Camp 2023
Snow Camp – Year 9 Snow Camp 2023
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to speak with the Outdoor Education team on 9286 9500
or email outdooreducation@sacs.nsw.edu.au.
More about our Middle School Outdoor Education programme:
– Senior College
St Andrew’s Cathedral School Year 10 Outdoor Education is the culmination of our extensive programme. It is sequenced so that students build on previously taught skills, as well as providing new and exciting experiences for students.
2024 Year 10 Camp registration
Parent letters – As the Year 10 programme is so individualised, each camp has it’s own information and, of course, programme. Parents and students will be provided with the information necessary well before the camp dates.
2024 Year 10 Outdoor Education Program Information – Registrations are now open on a first in basis for each camps. Please discuss options with your child before completing the registration. Please note the 2024 Tanzania Tour has been cancelled.
More about our Senior College Outdoor Education programme: