Learning beyond the classroom in Year 7 Environment Week

‘It’s not a camp, it’s a fieldtrip’

This year’s Year 7 Environment Week once again showcased the power of learning beyond the classroom. Across some of Victoria’s most remarkable and diverse environments, students explored coastlines, mountains, bushland, waterways and cultural sites, gaining hands-on experiences that simply cannot be replicated at school.

Importantly, the learning begins before students even depart. Two dedicated preparation days are held on campus, where students investigate key environmental concepts, build their understanding of the places they will visit and develop the knowledge needed to maximise their time in the field.

A phrase often heard throughout the program is, ‘It’s not a camp, it’s a fieldtrip.’ While students certainly enjoy the adventure of being away together, the focus is on active, immersive learning. Whether surfing along the Surf Coast, exploring rockpools, observing wildlife on Phillip Island, trekking through the alpine environments of Merrijig and Mt Stirling or contributing to environmental restoration projects, students are constantly doing, discovering and learning.

Throughout the week, students engaged with First Nations perspectives, sustainable relationships with Country and some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing our world. They investigated biodiversity, water health, conservation and human impact, developing an understanding that sustainability is not simply something to learn about, but something to practise.

Most impressive of all has been the enthusiasm, curiosity and positivity our students have brought to every experience. They embraced challenges, stepped outside their comfort zones and seized opportunities to learn from the people, places and environments around them.

The result is both a memorable week away and an opportunity for students to develop stronger friendships, greater independence, a deeper appreciation of the natural world and a clearer understanding of the role they can play in protecting it. The Year 7 Environment Program remains one of the defining educational experiences of the year and a powerful example of learning brought to life beyond the classroom.

Harry Dendle
Deputy Head of Middle School – Student Wellbeing