Outdoor Education
Each year, Kilvington students embark on exciting outdoor education trips across Australia, from Year 3 to Year 12. These immersive experiences are designed to challenge, inspire, and expand their horizons, whether it's bushwalking, waterskiing, rock climbing, raft building, surfing, cycling, or leadership training.
These adventures foster personal growth, teamwork, and a deep connection with nature. Beyond developing valuable life skills, the experiences enrich their education, integrating with subjects like Geography, Science, Photography, and English to bring learning to life in dynamic ways.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
— Albert Einstein
Junior School Camps
Years 3 and 4
Our Years 3 and 4 students will experience an unforgettable outdoor adventure to the beautiful foothills of Lake Mountain at Camp Marysville. Activities on offer will include a paddle across the lake in an exciting canoe session, plus making pizzas with fresh-picked herbs in the "Grow it, Cook it" activity. We will bring even more thrills, with bouldering, learning bush skills like fire-lighting, and ending the evening with a cosy campfire and marshmallow toasting under the stars. When it’s time to leave, everyone will carry home treasured memories and newfound confidence, already wishing they could return.
Years 5 and 6
Year 5 students heading to Narmbool and Sovereign Hill will discover Australian history firsthand with a stop at the Eureka Centre. At Sovereign Hill, they’ll immerse themselves in Australia’s gold rush era by panning for gold and exploring historical sites. Meanwhile, Year 6 students travelling to Canberra will explore national landmarks like Parliament House, Questacon, and the Australian War Memorial. The trip will be filled with engaging activities, from bowling and hands-on science at Questacon to enjoying delicious breakfasts, complete with waffles. Each camp offers a blend of learning, team-building, and memorable experiences.
Senior School Camps
Years 7 and 8
The Year 7 and 8 camps to the Golden Valley promises a mix of outdoor fun and lively events, from zip lining, vertical challenges and hiking through rainforests, to exciting rope courses, milk crate stacking, archery and more. Meanwhile, the Year 8 Camp at Wilsons Promontory will bring adventures like canoeing, surfing, and close encounters with local wildlife, along with shared campfire stories.
Year 9
In conjunction with the Year 9 Impact program, students will participate in one of three transformative expeditions, visiting Great Southwest Victoria, Far North Queensland or Cambodia. The Cape York Indigenous Homelands Expedition will immerse them in Indigenous culture through living with local families, participating in community service, and exploring traditional practices. The Great South West Expedition will build independence through outdoor adventures like abseiling, the Giant Swing, and a memorable hike to Kangaroobie Camp.
Year 10
The Year 10 Camp at Lake Eildon will be filled with physical challenges such as hiking, kayaking, and navigating high ropes, all set against stunning lakeside views that encourage teamwork and resilience.
Year 11
The Year 11s will experience Camp Jungai, blending cultural learning with activities like canoeing, high ropes, and Dreamtime storytelling around the campfire, while the Mansfield Rail Camp will test their endurance through nearly 100km of cycling along the scenic Victorian Rail Trail, with friendly group rivalries and breathtaking views of Lake Eildon.
Year 12
In their final year, Camp Wilkin in Anglesea offers Year 12 students a refreshing break filled with bonding opportunities and memorable experiences. Students will enjoy West African drumming, inspiring talks, and a choice of aquatic and land-based activities. The camp also includes study preparation, career-focused activities, motivational speakers, and reflection tasks, all designed to build skills and create lasting memories as they enter their final year.
FAQs
What year levels take part in outdoor education at Kilvington?
Every student takes part, from Year 3 right through to Year 12. The program runs across both the Junior School and Senior School, with each camp building on the skills and independence developed in the year before.
How does outdoor education connect with the rest of student life at Kilvington?
Outdoor education works alongside programs like the Character Initiative and the Year 9 Impact Program, reinforcing the same focus on resilience, leadership and community that runs through the wider Kilvington experience. It also supports the broader goals of Student Wellbeing, giving students a chance to build confidence and connect with peers outside the classroom.
What skills do students develop through the outdoor education program?
Students build resilience, teamwork, leadership and self-reliance, along with practical skills like navigation, cooking and camp craft that grow more advanced each year. These experiences also feed directly into classroom subjects such as Geography, Science, Photography and English, bringing an added layer of real-world context to what students are learning.
Where do Kilvington's outdoor education camps take place?
Camps are held at locations across Victoria and interstate, including Lake Mountain, Narmbool, Sovereign Hill, Canberra, the Golden Valleys, Wonga Park, The Summit in Trafalgar, and Anglesea, along with the Far North Queensland Indigenous Homelands Expedition, the Great Southwest Victoria Expedition, and the Cambodia Service Learning Expedition for Year 9 students.
Does outdoor education continue right through to Year 12?
Yes. The program culminates in Camp Wilkin in Anglesea, a Year 12 experience that blends bonding activities with study preparation, career-focused sessions and reflection tasks, helping students head into their final year of school with confidence.
How can I find out more about Kilvington's outdoor education program?
The best way to see how outdoor education fits into life at Kilvington is to visit in person. You can book a school tour or explore our Open Events and Tours page for upcoming dates, or get in touch with our enquiries team directly.