Experiences outside the classroom, designed to develop capable, confident, and faith-filled students.
From a one-day discovery camp, through adventure camps with CYC, to a week-long hike in the High Country or canoeing on the Murray, Donvale’s program of camps throughout both Primary and Secondary schools aims to foster independence, resilience, and personal growth.
Starting with a day camp experience in Year 2, students gradually build confidence through overnight stays, culminating in a three-night adventure by Year 6. This program emphasises relationship building, encouraging friendships to be fostered across the year level and team-building activities that challenge students to step out of their comfort zones.
From the thrill of the flying fox to navigating ropes courses and kayaking, each camp provides opportunities to extend boundaries, develop life skills, and nurture responsibility and social skills, which are all connected to the Victorian Curriculum.
Learning beyond the classroom provides an opportunity to challenge and inspire our students to ask questions, think critically and grow in their understanding of what it means to live with a Christian worldview.
Primary
Year 2: YMCA Mt Evelyn Discovery Camp (day experience)
Year 3: Mill Valley Ranch an overnight camp with horse riding
Year 4: Adanac CYC Camp (adventure camp)
Year 5: Forrest Edge Camp CYC (adventure camp)
Year 6: Phillip Island Adventure Resort CYC (adventure camp)
Into the Secondary years, camps and excursions provide time for students to engage with God and His majestic work, which otherwise they may have little opportunity to do so in what is an increasingly busy, technology driven, and risk adverse world.
The range of activities offered at Donvale creates opportunities for inter-student growth and the development of deeper connections between staff and students.
Through a structured camp program through Years 7-11 students are empowered to develop their resilience, ability to work in groups, self-management in a range of physical environments, and activity-specific skills.
Secondary
Year 7: In Gippsland with a range of onsite adventure activities
Year 8: The Grampians with a range of onsite adventure activities and an overnight hike on the Grampians Peaks Trail
Year 9: Wilderness Hike in the Victorian Alps
Year 10: Canoeing camp on the Murray River
Year 11: Ski Camp at a Victorian Ski Resort
The Secondary Outdoor Education program further adds to richness of the regular year-level camps. Students who choose these electives will have opportunities to further develop their leaderships, hard skills for camping and adventure activities, their ability to plan for overnight camps, and manage themselves in a range of climates through camps such as Mountain Biking, Rafting, Rock Climbing and Ski Touring.
In all these camps and adventure activities, there is always time for quiet reflection on what God is saying to each student, uniquely, as they face adversity – experiences which deepen friendships and understanding in a way which the walls of a classroom cannot permit.
