2024 School Camp

Rationale

Brisbane Central State School strives to deliver a quality academic curriculum in every aspect. We also endeavour to develop future citizens that have the skills and knowledge required for them to be active, informed and productive contributors to our 21^st century society. Our Camp program is an extension of the curriculum, cultural, environmental and outdoor aspects of our curriculum.

Aim

1. To provide a broad scaffolded and sequential range of camping, educational, personal and social learning experiences that build upon that build upon the explicitly taught character qualities and competencies of being a Brisbane Central State School Learner.
2. To extend and build upon the productive relationships developed within year level cohorts and their educators.
3. To develop deeper and stronger professional relationships that benefit the understanding, appreciation and respect between staff and students in order to further personalise learning opportunities.

Included Year Levels

A camp is defined as an activity designed by the year level that builds up to or involves at least one night’s accommodation.

Venues may change due to accessibility and other organisational considerations. Year level staff make the final judgements and arrangements in relation to venues. Durations and calendar dates are in negotiation with the Principal.

The program will be developed sequentially throughout Year 4 to 6

Year 4 – two-nights external site (bush/hinterland)

Year 5/6 – two-night external site (different and preferably a contrast to previous camp i.e. beach/coastal)

Year 6 – three-five-night external site (Regional/Canberra)

The Year level staff will ensure that all venues for school camps provide a range of activities in contrast to each other and or extend from that of previous camps.

Camp Curriculum

School Camps have a defined educational purpose.

School Camp is an opportunity for students to engage in the Curriculum outside of the classroom whilst engaging in collaborative and fun activities. Below are the General Capabilities and Cross Curricular Priorities that are targeted whilst at school camps.

General Capabilities: The Personal and Social capabilities

The Personal and Social capabilities provide a foundation for students to understand themselves and others, and navigate their relationships, lives, work and learning. Students with well-developed social and emotional skills find it easier to manage themselves, relate to others, collaborate, develop empathy, set goals and resolve conflict. They feel positive about themselves and the world around them.

The Personal and Social capabilities support students to build their ability to regulate their thoughts, emotions and behaviours. This ability assists students to effectively engage with new ways of thinking, knowing and doing in an increasingly demanding and diverse global society.

Whilst at camp, students will engage in a diverse range of activities that target the following general capabilities to enhance their personal and social capabilities:

Self-awareness

Personal awareness – students develop an appreciation of their personal qualities and areas for growth. Through acknowledgment and assessment of their thoughts, feelings, actions and abilities, students can plan for growth across a range of contexts.

Reflective practice – students reflect cyclically on feedback and self-assessment to evaluate their learning and the factors, personal or otherwise, that influence this learning.

Self-management

Goal setting – students develop the organisational and planning behaviours needed to set, adapt and achieve goals.

Emotional regulation – students constructively express, manage, monitor and evaluate their emotional responses in a range of contexts.

Perseverance and adaptability – students persist in the face of setbacks and frustrations. They learn to review and modify their approaches when faced with challenges and to build strategies to complete tasks and overcome obstacles.

Social awareness

Relational awareness – students recognise the value of their relationships and examine what makes their relationships work. They learn to participate in positive, safe and respectful relationships, defining and accepting individual and group roles and responsibilities.

Social management

Communication – students learn to negotiate and communicate effectively with others through verbal and non-verbal means in a range of contexts.

Collaboration – students cooperate in groups and constructively contribute to ways of working and outputs. They develop the ability to initiate and manage successful personal relationships through participation in a range of group activities.

Leadership – students explore the ways that they can lead themselves and others. Students build their leadership capacity by examining a range of approaches and learn to select appropriate strategies in different situations.

Decision-making – students choose from possibilities to solve problems. They develop their understanding around factors that influence decisions and learn to evaluate the outcomes of decisions.

Conflict resolution – students develop and apply strategies to prevent, defuse and resolve conflict to reach constructive outcomes.

Cross Curricular Priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

To further explore and understand Australian First Nations Peoples’ living communities and identities, school camps support the acquisition of deeper knowledge and understanding through the 3 interconnected aspects of Country/Place, Culture and People.

Country/Place: Recognises the special connection to Country/Place and celebrates the unique belief systems that connect Australian First Nations Peoples physically and spiritually to Country/Place.

Culture: Examines the cultural diversity of the First Peoples of Australia and the First Nations Peoples of the Torres Strait, including their unique ways of ways of being, knowing, thinking and doing.

Recognises Australia’s First Peoples as belonging to the world’s oldest continuous cultures and acknowledges the many historic and enduring impacts on the cultures of First Nations Australians.

Clarifies that the cultures of First Nations Australians are not static and have internationally enshrined special rights that ensure they can be maintained, controlled, protected and developed.

People: Examines the sophisticated social organisation systems, protocols, kinship structures and the significant contributions of First Nations Australians’ histories and cultures on a local, national and global scale.

Cross Curricular Priority: Sustainability

Sustainability addresses the ongoing capacity of Earth to maintain all life. Sustainable patterns of living seek to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations.  

Targeted outcomes through structured activities are as follows:

Systems: Sustainable patterns of living require the responsible use of resources, maintenance of clean air, water and soils, and preservation or restoration of healthy environments.

Design: Creative and innovative design is integral to the identification of new ways of sustainable living.

Accomodation

Year 4 - Tuchekoi

At camps, students sleep in gender-assigned cabins, usually from 2-10 people per cabin.

Year 4: Our bush camp is situated on Maranatha’s largest piece of land out of the three campuses. Tuchekoi has the picture-perfect scenery including cabins to accommodate large groups of students.

Year 5 - Currumundi

Year 5: The Year 5 beach camp is located 1-hour north of Brisbane Central, tightly situated along the Sunshine Coast. Students sleep in smaller cabins in groups of 4.

Financial Implications and Subsidies

School Camps are a compulsory part of the year level curriculum. As such, attendance by students at Camps is expected.

Brisbane Central State School subsidises the cost of all the Year 4-6 camps from income generated from school lease arrangements at a differentiated rate per Year Level. This is designed to reduce the financial implications for our families.

Students will not be excluded from camps simply for financial reasons. Parents experiencing financial difficulty will be invited to discuss their individual situation with the Principal.

We understand circumstances may arise which may make payments difficult. Alternative payment arrangements can be made by the Principal on a case-by-case basis.

All families will be given sufficient time to make part payments for individual camps.

Learner Participation and Behavioural Expectations

Although the Camps program of Brisbane Central State School is a compulsory activity within the Brisbane Central State School Curriculum, only children who have displayed respectful behaviour (in line with our School Expectations) will be afforded the experience of the camping program. This is done as part of the required risk management procedures.

In the event that a child is in danger of being excluded from the Camps program, parents will be notified by their class teacher or a member of the Administration team in the first instance. 

In the event that a child exhibits behaviour that is considered unacceptable, unsafe or non-compliant during the applicable activity, the Teacher in Charge will consult with the Principal, for a final decision to be made. In the event that the Principal determines that removal is required, parents will be required to collect their child from the Camp with any costs incurred borne by the child’s parent/s.

Any potential refund for non-attendance at an activity is limited to the school’s ability to obtain a refund from the supplier on behalf of the parent.

This process has been developed to ensure that as a school we have a consistent and fair process to support students to attend Camp, whilst risk managing students with potential behaviour problems that could pose a risk to themselves or others during the camp program.

Expectations of School Staff

There is an expectation that staff involved with Years 4-6 will actively participate in the camp program and understand that obligation in selecting that year level as part of their expression of preference.

Staff follow an agreed practice of communicating any learner participation concerns with their supervisor prior to discussing these with the parent/s and/ or student/s concerned.

Staffing for Camps

• Our staff has the responsibility for the safe, respectful, responsible and active conduct of all learning experiences for students – both on-site and off-site.

It is important that appropriate staffing levels are maintained for the duration of each camp. It is usually a requirement to employ the assistance of additional teachers or education assistants for this purpose. The Curriculum Leader will work with administration to negotiate and cost appropriate staffing levels to maintain the safety and integrity of the camps program.

It is not within the rationale or aims of the camps program to utilise parents to attend the camps except in the case where the parent is a teacher on staff.

Expectations of Parents

• Advise the school of financial constraints within a timely fashion, and meet with the Principal to develop a payment plan or other strategy as required.
• Complete all required forms in to the level of detail required and return them as outlined.
• Meet payment deadlines for the camp program – whether via instalments or a one-off payment as determined by the Administration for each activity.
• Be an active participant in the preparation for the camp, asking for clarification or discussing your concerns with staff regarding your child’s attendance or participation in the activity.
• If they are unable to participate in the camps program for any reason, students are expected to attend school during the camp period and they will be accommodated in another classroom as determined by Administration.
• In the event of inappropriate student behaviour at camp, parents will collect and pay for the return of students with any refund limited to what the school can reclaim from the provider on behalf of the parent.

TRUST IN THOSE WHO TEACH

Follow the instructions and recommendations of staff to maintain the integrity of the camping program. During camp activities, we act as loco parentis and take that responsibility very seriously.

Other Co-Curricular Activities

Brisbane Central State School offers a large variety of extracurricular activities for students.

As a courtesy, students should inform the facilitator of any extra-curricular activity conflicting with the camps program (i.e. the students will not be able to attend due to them being away on camp).

Year Level Leaders will ensure the activity is posted in the school calendar so that all stakeholders are aware of the program.

Camp Video

Hear from our Yr 4 camp goers about their experience.

They tell of stories of overcoming fear, leading to a great experience whilst at camp.

For more information.........