Programs

Maroon Outdoor Education Centre is a Department of Education and Training school that values learning through community living and active engagement in camping, bushwalking, team building, aquatics and high challenge activities.

Our program outcomes reflect the general capabilities found within the Australian Curriculum, specifically: Personal and Social Capabilities of teamwork, resilience, connections and leadership (TRCL) and the Critical and Creative Thinking Capabilities of problem solving and reflection.

Educational research indicates that student engagement in residential programs that offer student involvement in community living results in significant levels of student growth. The campout opportunity that Maroon OEC provides further enhances students’ growth through experiencing real responsibility. Maroon OEC is committed to value of campout and this is reflected in prioritising the acceptance of booking applications that include campout.

Types of programs

All programs are collaboratively developed between the school and Maroon OEC. Schools are required to identify one of the Core Learning Areas, which will be the learning focus of the program. Learning opportunities are selected and sequenced to provide the flexibility to respond to the emerging needs of the students and the learning environment.

1. Teamwork, Resilience, Connection or Leadership Adventure Programs

This is the style of program MOEC has always offered students from year 5 to 12, focussing on our TRCL Core Learning areas. The developmental nature of the week’s program allows the MOEC teacher working with a group to adjust the learning focus and activities to suit student needs.

A variation of the TRCL program. These programs are centre based relying on school delivered workshops. The workshops focus on the development of leadership knowledge and skills, which are explored further through engagement in MOEC’s outdoor adventure activities.

Workshops and activities are run every night, with some adding sessions for a short period each morning. Subsequent MOEC activity session offers an activity linked to the workshops learning focus or Leadership Core Learning (PDF, 358KB).

2. Outdoor Recreation, Vocational Education and Training or Recreation Studies

MOEC offers 3 courses from the Certificate 2 in Outdoor Recreation. High Schools may apply to address one of these courses in any booking week. See the Vocational page for full details.

Each course is program specific and must focus on developing the core activities skills and knowledge through deep involvement. Only partial training is conducted during any MOEC VET course of 4 or 5 days, it is vital that schools adequately prepare students through engagement in outdoor recreation activities and
lessons prior to coming to the Centre.

3. School Curriculum

These programs are designed to address key practical or outdoor components from a school unit or subject area (Health, Geography, etc). It is anticipated that tasks and activities will be related to the unit content or assessment requirements.

4. Learning on country

This program is suited for students in years 10, 11 or 12 and has a deep focus on indigenous perspectives and world views. There is an emphasis on nature centred rather than human centred values.

As a part of the cultural activities students will be taken on a journey of discovery using indigenous stories, traditional activities, bushcraft and reflections. Campout is an integral part of connecting students with the world around them and helping them to understand their place in it.