Outdoor Education Program

Redeemer Lutheran College provides a compulsory outdoor education opportunity for all students in Year 9.  Redeemer provides its program through contracted arrangements with ‘Higher Ground’, a specialized outdoor education provider which meets the goals and objectives of the college.

All Year 9 students attend in class groupings for a period of four weeks in Semester 2. It is compulsory that all students attend this outdoor education experience as it forms part of the curriculum for all students in Year 9.

Camp Tuchekoi

Camp Tuchekoi is owned by the Queensland Government and leased to and operated by Higher Ground. It is located approximately 170km from Brisbane, around 30 minutes’ drive from Gympie.

Established on 180 acres of rolling hills in a rural setting, Tuchekoi Outdoor Centre is on the edge of the Mary River Valley and Noosa Hinterland about one and a half hours north of Brisbane. Tuchekoi is also less than an hour from the Sunshine Coast. Although it is so close to Brisbane, a major contributor to the popularity of Tuchekoi Outdoor Centre is the perceived remoteness of its location.

The facilities, staff and program run by ‘Higher Ground’ at Camp Tuchekoi has been made available to Redeemer Lutheran College. It is the policy of Redeemer that all students participate in the four week program of Outdoor Education.

All of the students will experience the preparation and execution of camping and hiking activities, including decision making, type of equipment and the selection and quantity of food. Prior to hiking and camping participation, all students will be given extensive instruction in maps and compass skills in conjunction with field work knowledge which includes building bush shelters, food and water conservation and other survival skills.

Students will also be given instruction in canoeing and abseiling techniques, and initiative games, all of which are designed to improve self-confidence and build up self-esteem.

The problems of living together and learning to cook, clean, wash, work and endure the strengths and weaknesses of fellow students are real. Outdoor Education makes every attempt to foster trust and understanding through relationships and hence a community spirit. The fostering of Christian ideals is an important part of community life at Camp Tuchekoi and students participate in morning and evening devotions.

Costs

The College charges to parents the full cost which it pays to Higher Ground.  Please refer to the College Fees Notices for specific payment details and any concerns regarding costs should be directed to the Business Manager.

Students do NOT need to take pocket money to cover expenditure due to loss, breakages, emergencies and a Camp Tuchekoi shirt (if required).  Any costs incurred will be added to the next term College account.

Accommodation

Accommodation for students consists of two dormitory style buildings which each contain rooms of 5-6 beds. At the end of each building there is a shower/toilet area and space and facilities for students to hand wash their laundry items. Storage space in limited, and for that reason students are asked to only bring one suitcase, which will fit under the bed.

Male and female accommodation blocks are separated by approximately 50 metres, with the communal area and staff house located in between. Each dorm is allocated a staff member as first point of contact.

Staff

Permanent and casual staff qualifications include teaching, outdoor education, senior first aid, remote area first aid, cooking skills and food handling qualifications. Staff have environmental interests, skills and enjoy promoting an active, healthy lifestyle.

Goals and Objectives

Students will be involved in a wide variety of activities and educational experiences that cannot be duplicated in a normal classroom environment. The fundamental objective is personal growth and development.

The stated major goals of the program are to foster each student’s development as a unique child of God by providing them with:

1. the opportunity to develop awareness, appreciation and understanding of their relationship to God's creation;
2. the opportunity to deepen their spiritual life and recognise how God's word affects their lives;
3. the opportunity to live within a Christian community upholding Christian values concerning themselves, others and the environment;
4. personal and group challenges, which are physical, mental, emotional and which promote responsibility, resilience, and respect of self and others.

Redeemer’s Outdoor Education Program aims to give students (within a context of careful supervision) an opportunity to:

• learn outside the classroom, in a context of learn, then do;
• cope with the pressures of living, responsibilities, failure and success;
• experience a bush lifestyle;
• spend time away from the comforts of home and modern technology;
• learn to appreciate their families;
• meet God in a different setting;
• gain a better understanding of self;
• make new friends;
• heighten acceptance of others;
• learn new skills.

Medical

Every student will receive a permission slip which includes a section on medical requirements to cover camping and hiking activities. It is important that medical information is current and that dental checks, immunizations, etc, are in order before students depart for the program.
All staff are first aid qualified and there are medical facilities in Pomona, Gympie and Nambour nearby.

Any students required to take prescribed medication during their stay at the Outdoor Education centre are to bring sufficient quantities, clearly marking details. All medication is to be handed into the Redeemer Staff prior to departure and it will be administered under supervision following the information provided on the consent form.  Analgesics will be dispensed from labelled containers provided by students.

Final Word

The vast majority (consistently over 95% as per the annual Year 12 Exit Survey) of Redeemer students rank the Outdoor Education Program as their best overall experience at Redeemer Lutheran College.

We hope that the Outdoor Education experience at Redeemer will provide your child with a unique and long remembered experience that will aid his/her personal and spiritual development.

Download the Outdoor Education Brochure

Tuchekoi Blog

Parents can follow their children’s journey by signing up to the ‘Tuchekoi Blog’. A journal entry is handwritten by different students each day, and is posted onto the blog website by Redeemer staff.

The Tuchekoi Blog can be located at: www.redeemerlutherancollege.wordpress.com