Frequently asked questions

We take safety seriously at MOEC, managing risks and preventing harm before, during, and after every program. Our staff adhere to various safety procedures including: Curriculum Activity Risk Assessments, specific industry guidelines and our own Standard Operating Procedures. Before taking responsibility of a group each registered teacher at Maroon OEC needs to complete a centre specific induction exceeding the requirements of a Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation. Our teachers are passionate about the outdoors and spend their free time having their own adventures and keeping up to date with industry standards and best practices.​

All activities and challenges are within the capabilities of anyone who is willing to try. Everyone will be challenged either physically, mentally or emotionally and we’ll be there to encourage and support you along the way!​

You don’t have to be a fitness fanatic or an outdoors expert to take part in one of our programs. Our teachers work very hard at changing the activities to meet the various needs of every student. We still want it to be physically challenging, so the more prepared you are, the more you will enjoy it. We recommend walking a little bit each day, building up until the start date of your program—mainly because the centre is located on a steep hill!

If you are participating in an expedition your school may have provided you with some information to help you choose the most appropriate bushwalking challenge for you. You will need to consider your fitness level, any pre-existing injuries and medical conditions, and what you want to achieve in this aspect of the program when selecting the right bushwalking challenge for you.

Our programs are, by nature, challenging! That’s why students leave with such an amazing experience. However not all challenges are physical. Your weekly activities will vary and may include; camping out, rock climbing, bushwalking, orienteering, ropes courses, problem solving games, building catapults and water activities, like canoeing and rafting. Be aware that all activities offer different opportunities for adventure and may be affected, at the very least, by weather, group dynamics, personal attitude and your own experiences. A good rule is to expect the unexpected! Go to the Programs page for more information.​

All students can experience success at MOEC, and we take great care to ensure that activities and programs are as inclusive as possible. All teachers are qualified and registered and take pride in providing quality, differentiated teaching in an outdoor environment. We work closely with schools attending to support the learning of all students during their time at MOEC.

If you have a medical condition, disability or different learning needs, please make sure that you provide as much information as possible when you complete your medical forms. Some conditions will require additional forms to be completed, and we may discuss your personal circumstances with you and/or your school to ensure that we can provide you with the best support possible whilst on program.​

Our teachers will do their absolute best to provide ample time and space for your cultural needs and practices. Please disclose your needs to your school coordinator as soon as possible so that we can do our best to accommodate them. If you require special food or food preparation to meet your cultural needs, please provide this information on the Dietary Management Form which you will be able to get from your school coordinator.

Please note, that participants who are unable to wear a helmet will not be able to undertake activities where a helmet is required for safety reasons (e.g. rock climbing).

It may be difficult for your child initially, however, MOEC ensures a supportive environment whilst on program. Your child will be among friends and staff who will be there for support. Our teachers often face this situation whilst on program and have learnt from experience and training to help your child deal with this.

We work in the great outdoors, which means that we work through all sorts of weather conditions. The weather won’t always be perfect, so make sure you are ready to deal with temperature extremes and wet weather when you come on program. It pays to be prepared!

However, when it comes to significant weather events such as bush fires, floods and other natural events, safety always comes first. We closely monitor weather conditions and other natural hazards before and during programs and we are prepared with evacuation plans and/or alternative routes. If significant changes need to happen this will be discussed with the school coordinator as soon as possible.​

Strict hygiene practices are implemented throughout the program, such as hand-washing facilities with fresh water and disinfectant. Standard operating procedures are in place to meet food handling guidelines both at the centre and during expeditions. Special considerations for feminine hygiene are made for female students prior to the program and will be discussed further at the start of a campout.

When you are staying at the centre you will be allocated to a cabin or the Lakeview bunkhouse. In either of these facilities you will be in a room with 2 bunk beds and up to 3 other students; teachers are accommodated in separate rooms. See the Accommodation page  or our Virtual tour (PDF, 1.06Mb) for more information.

You will be provided with a list of equipment to bring with you. This lists all personal items that you will need with whilst at the centre, including items that you will need for campout. If your group is not taking part in a campout, you will not need these items.

If you do not have access to some of the items on the list, please discuss this with your teacher or school coordinator as they may be able to suggest alternatives.

At the heart of every great camp experience is spending quality time with your friends and making new ones. Not having access to personal technology promotes a rewarding learning environment free from distractions and gives you greater opportunities for social interaction. For these reasons, we do not permit mobile phones, laptops, tablets, music players etc. during the program. If you believe that you have special circumstances that mean you will require access to technology during your visit (e.g. blood sugar monitoring app), please discuss this with your school coordinator. Please see the Mobile phone policy for more information.

You can bring a camera on program. However, the MOEC staff will be able to provide your group with a camera or iPad to record your various adventures (these recordings will be given to your school before you leave). If you still decide you need your own camera please note that there will be times when you are not able to use it, such as during roping activities, group debriefs etc. And please ensure it is well protected and waterproofed as we cannot take responsibility for its damage or loss.

t the centre and during activities we encourage you to wear comfortable shoes that you can be active in. Shoes must be enclosed, and we recommend that they provide good grip and ankle support.

For water-based activities, you will need a separate pair of shoes that you are happy to get wet and muddy. A pair of old runners or aquatic shoes should suffice. Please don’t go out and buy a pair of shoes just for this purpose, they will often return damp, smelly and a different colour.

If you usually wear orthotics, we strongly recommend that you bring them with you. You will be doing a lot of walking and other activity while you are here, and you may find this difficult and uncomfortable if you do not have the right support in your shoes.

Yes, your rain jacket needs to form a waterproof outer shell over your clothing. It must have a good hood and be waterproof not 'shower proof' or 'water resistant'. Longer rain jackets are preferable. Thin plastic ponchos do not last very long when worn with a backpack or during activities. Do not bring ski or other nylon/quilted jackets as they are not waterproof and are unnecessarily heavy.

If you are participating in a campout or expedition, MOEC supplies essential items such as backpack, sleeping mat, tent, food and cooking equipment required. MOEC will also supply essential safety equipment for your group during campout which may include emergency shelters, first aid and communication equipment.

For other activities in your program all equipment (e.g. PFDs, harnesses, helmets) will be supplied. You do not need to purchase any specialist equipment to take part but will need to make sure you bring appropriate clothing and shoes for the activity and conditions.

Students are responsible for the care of all issued equipment. Where possible, any damage is repaired during the program, to emphasise the group’s self-sufficiency, their reliance upon the equipment, and the consequences of not treating their resources with care. If any damage is caused by deliberate malicious acts, or if an item is lost, you may be required to reimburse the value of the repair or replacement as per normal school expectations.

All clothing we ask you to provide is essential for your safety and comfort in the outdoors but luckily can be sourced at many places...

• Op shops (Salvos, St. Vinnies etc.) are a great source of cheap durable. clothing for camp, especially old business shirts and shoes as you don’t care if they get wet and dirty.
  
• Borrow clothes from family and friends or layer existing clothes you own.
  
• Discuss options with your teacher or school coordinator.
  
• Only as a last resort go to a suitable outdoor store.
  

During a campout or an expedition there are no showers available. However, often water activities are incorporated into longer expeditions, giving students and teachers alike a chance to get wet. Note that no soap-like products can be used in these areas as they will pollute waterways. When you return to the centre after your campout experience you will have access to the on-site facilities. You may even appreciate a warm shower more than you did before your campout experience!

Due to environmental reasons, we don’t regularly use pit toilets while camping out. Some of our campsites have flushing or composting toilets, and in sites where these facilities do not exist, we transport a port-a-loo in for the exclusive use of our groups. In remote areas where these options are not possible your MOEC teacher will have another system in place and will brief all students in its use.

If you are participating in a long hike or expedition, we recommend boots or shoes with good grip on the soles and ankle support. These shoes should ideally be in a decent condition and well broken in but not to the state of nearly falling apart. In our experience when carrying a loaded pack over rough terrain, work boots, canvas and non-lace up shoes do not provide enough support and are likely to cause discomfort and injuries. If you normally wear orthotics please bring these with you.

MOEC will provide all the food that you will need during your campout, but your group will be responsible for preparing and cooking it... How exciting! Depending on the location and style of your campout, you might be cooking on the fire, a BBQ or a fuel stove. If your campout involves expedition style bushwalking, you will also be carrying all your food with you. For longer expeditions this may include dehydrated meals which have been prepared on site for you. Regardless of your campout style, you will be offered a range of healthy, nutritiously balanced options prepared by our team of catering staff.

Your MOEC teacher will provide you with all the information and assistance that you need to safely store, handle and prepare your meals with your group. The communal nature of preparing and enjoying food together during campout is a unique experience, and for many students this is the highlight of their campout.

Bringing snacks is not permissible at our centre as it detracts from the sense of community, causes an inequality amongst other students and most importantly may be unsafe for others with dietary related medical conditions.

We can cater for special dietary requirements so make sure you list your needs on the Dietary Management Form which will be provided by your school coordinator.