Kia ora koutou,

Outdoor education provides students opportunities to develop personal and social skills; to become active, safe and skilled in the outdoors; and to develop a passion for outdoor education and the environment. This is our first general information email. In Term 4 closer to the camp, we will email final confirmation details around camp, including a gear list. All camp information will be on the school website under the Year 5/6 tab.

The Year 5 and 6 Education Outside the Classroom (E.O.T.C) programme includes a variety of learning opportunities:

Adventure activities and outdoor pursuits that focus on physical skills, challenge, development, fun and enjoyment.
Games and cooperation activities that focus on the development of personal and interpersonal skills.
Opportunities to use safe practices and basic risk management strategies.
Pushing themselves outside their comfort zone.
Opportunities to learn about and explore the environment.

The programme is designed to cater for the consolidation and extension of our students’ skills and needs. It is our aim for all children to be included in our outdoor education programme.

CAMP INFORMATION

The Year 5 and 6 camp will take place from Monday, 27th November, 2017 - Friday, 1st December 2017 (Week 7 of Term 4).

The location for the Year 5 and 6 camp will be Kiwi Ranch - Curious Cove in the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Here is a link to the website.

Travel:

Amesbury School to Curious Cove: Monday 27th November - ferry leaves at about 9:00am and arrives in Picton at 12:30pm. Board another ferry to Curious Cove (because it is only accessible by boat) that arrives at 2:00pm.

Curious Cove to Amesbury: Friday 1st December - Depart Curious Cove at 11:00am by ferry. Board the ferry back to Wellington which will arrive at about 5:00pm.

*We will confirm the exact timing closer to the time.

Camp Programme:

Activities have been planned with the Kiwi Ranch - Curious Cove coordinators to ensure the activities are age and ability appropriate. Here is a link to the programme we are looking at doing. We are still in the process of confirming the exact activities that will happen at camp.

* When we involve your children in activities that have an element of risk (all activities marked with an asterisk) we use qualified camp instructors to operate and run the activities.

Camp Cost:

The total cost we charge each student will be $220. Most of the cost of this camp is made up of activities, hiring instructors, transportation, meals and accommodation.

Permission Form

Please click on the link to fill in the camp permission form by Friday, 18th August 2017 (end of Week 4).

Payment Schedule:

Full payment of $220 can be paid by 18th August 2017, or if parents prefer, they can pay on the following schedule:

$50 non-refundable deposit by 18th August 2017
$85 second payment by 31st August 2017
$85 final payment by 15th September 2017

All students participating must have paid at least the $50 deposit by 18th August.

You should make your payment using the school’s online shop. If you haven’t used this yet, here’s the link. You will need to register the first time you use the shop, and then top up your account so you have credit. By the end of this week, the option to “purchase” the year 5/6 senior camp will be available on the site. There will be 3 payment options to choose from as per the breakdown above, which means you will be able to opt to pay just the deposit, or one or both of the two subsequent payments.

Parent Help:

As always parent help is needed and appreciated for camp to go ahead. In previous years there has been a big response to assisting with camp. While we would love to include everyone, costs and space prevent us from doing so - we have a maximum number of additional parents we are able to take on camp with us. There is a section on the consent form regarding parental help on camp. If you are interested in attending camp please indicate this on the form. After the form completion deadline (Friday, 18th August 2017) we will notify all parents who have expressed an interest in attending the camp to let you know of our final decision.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Demelza (demelza@amesbury.school.nz).

Warm regards,

The Harakeke Team

New Student!