Queenstown Primary School is renowned for its Outdoor Education programme and we’re proud of the opportunities and experiences made available to our students/ ākonga. Outdoor Education is an aspect of Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) and aims to extend the four walls of the classroom.

Programmes in Outdoor Education are essential for connecting students with nature and their local environment.

Through learning in outdoor education, students can explore concepts such as manaakitanga (care and responsibility), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), whakawhanaungatanga (social connections), ārahitanga (leadership), and kotahitanga (unity and cooperation). We value students giving back to the community who generously support the school.

Outdoor Education includes learning skills in specific outdoor activities, such as biking, camping and hiking. It also includes developing an appreciation of the local area, learning the stories, and how the environment is connected to where they live. Outdoor activities foster the personal and social development of students through experiences involving:

• co-operation

• trust

• problem-solving

• decision making

• goal setting

• communication

• leadership

• responsibility

• reflection.

Queenstown Primary School weaves the following concepts through learning in this area:

HEALTH - HAUROA

In Outdoor Education programmes, the four dimensions of Hauora are enhanced through safe, challenging, and enjoyable learning experiences in the outdoor environment.

The four dimensions or elements are:

taha hinengaro – mental health and emotions

taha wairua – spiritual health

taha tinana – physical health

taha whānau – whānau as the epicentre of one's well-being.

ATTITUDES AND VALUES

Attitudes and values developed through outdoor education include:

• a sense of fun and enjoyment

• the value of personal and interpersonal skills

• an appreciation of the traditions and values

• understanding of the environmental impact of outdoor recreation activities

• care for the environment and the whenua/ land

• constructive attitudes to personal and group safety, challenge, and risk

• the value of local environments to communities and groups.

THE SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Through the socio-ecological perspective, students will investigate the importance of the outdoor environment and outdoor activities to the well-being of the Wakatipu and Aotearoa. They will examine social, cultural, scientific, technological, and economic influences on outdoor activities, on the environment, and on how the environment is used.

HEALTH PROMOTION

The enhancement of health promotion through outdoor education requires school-wide policies and procedures to ensure that appropriate activities, safe practices, and the most suitable community resources are selected, used, and evaluated.

Our Outdoor Education programmes follow safe practices and meet our duty of care.

Examples of EOTC opportunities for our students include:

Whole School:

Hiking to Lake Alta (Remarkables Ski Area)

Walking the Sam Summers Track

Wilding Pines project - Skyline Gondola

Jet Boating the Kawarau River

Hiking at Wilson’s Bay

Planting at Arthurs Point

Creating with Masterchef

The Amazing Race around Queenstown CBD

Junior Students: Year 0 - 2 students

Tubing the Arrow River

Gold panning

Water and Wheels

Exploring the Queenstown Gardens

Ice Skating

Middle School: Year 3 - 4 students

Kelvin Heights Camp - 1 night

Bannockburn Camp - 2 nights

Biking the Frankton Track

Snowsports - optional

Senior School: Year 5 - 6 students

Moke Lake Camp - 2 nights

Stewart Island Camp - 1 week

Snowsports - optional

Walking Ben Lomond

Intermediate School: Year 7 - 8 students

Glendhu Bay Camp - 2 nights

Cecil Peak Camp - 2 nights

Rail Trail Camp - Year 8 students

Snowsports - optional

Riverboarding the Kawarau River

Rockclimbing

….. and many more!