The first outdoor excursion at St Andrew’s is a trip to Australia Zoo. They enjoy a zoo-keeper’s talk about what animals need to keep them healthy, as well as getting up close and personal with some special Australian animals.

With the confidence of a year and a half of schooling behind them, Year 1s take on some bigger challenges including ropes courses, bush cooking, hiking and the dizzying heights of the possum pull.

Students continue to play in nature to build catapults and kites in fun group activities, ropes course and the famous Mudjimba mud pit challenge. This setting prepares them for their first overnight experience the following year.

Students experience their first overnight camp in a setting not too far from home, where they immerse themselves in a bush tucker walk lead by indigenous guides. They also embrace new challenges in the outdoors such as canoeing and orienteering.

This is a two-night camp at a farm-stay. One night is slept in tents at a remote site where students prepare and cook their own campfire dinner. Other activities include horse-riding, cow-milking, team challenges, swimming in a dam and hiking.

Continuing the theme of interacting with animals from the previous year, students travel to Moreton Island to interact with dolphins, feed fish, snorkel, participate in island tours and speed down the sand dunes sand tobogganing.

To enhance their studies in Civics and Citizenship, students in Year 6 travel to Canberra see, experience and gain further understanding about the Australian Government system and how it works.

Students travel to the spectacular granite outcrops of Girraween National Park to play and explore the many caves, tunnels, unique rock formations and spectacular views. Throughout the week there is a major focus on embracing a growth mindset to overcome personal challenges and working and living in cooperative groups.

Utilising our beautiful backyard, the Upper Noosa River and Cooloola, students spend the week hiking, kayaking, rock climbing and Mountain Biking to experience the area in an adventurous and fun way. The program is designed to be a challenge for students to encourage a growth mindset as well as an additional focus on working with others, living independently, and giving back to the area.

Students are immersed in an exciting year of learning with our award-winning Year 9 Connections Program. Drawing on experience and research, the Connections Program has been purposefully designed to foster personal capacity and development.

In Year 10, our students are provided with extended experience in an adventurous activity of their choice.

Sea Kayaking

Before the camp even begins, students must work with buddies to plan their menus and buy their food. The journey begins in the sheltered waters of the southern bay, then they venture out to campsites on South Stradbroke Island. They learn paddling techniques and by the end of the week are navigating themselves and planning their route depending on tides and conditions.

K’gari Hike

In small groups, this camp provides a unique wilderness experience on World Heritage-listed K’gari. Approximately 40 kilometres is hiked over the five days with each group staying in a new location every night.

Mountain Biking

This trip gives students the opportunity to develop and challenge individual riding skills whether they are basic or advanced, at South East Queensland’s best mountain biking areas.

Whitewater

Students travel to the Nymboida River in Northern NSW. The Buccarumbi to Jackadgery section of the river is a fantastic multi-day wilderness journey on Grade 1 and 2 whitewater. Travelling in small groups with professional whitewater guides, students develop their skills in reading river features, self-rescue and paddling on whitewater.

Students in Year 11 undertake a targeted development of their group (social) and leadership skills, albeit in an appropriate and inspiring outdoor setting, with their Leadership Retreat. This week-long course is pivotal in assisting each Year 11 cohort to strengthen their skills and capacity to become the best leaders possible in the pending school year to come, and also to help them focus their personal goals for their final and vital year of schooling.