Outdoor Education
As part of our quest for an all-round education, the school, in conjunction with an array of professional facilitators, arranges several exciting and challenging outdoor activities and outings throughout the year to enhance the academic and cultural programmes. The outdoor philosophy is based on the seven “Rs” i.e. Rites of passage, Relationships, Reach, Rootedness, Responsibility, Risk and Reflection.
Our aim in the Junior Preparatory is to expose the children to a multitude of outdoor experiences and equip them with the appropriate skills required to meet these challenges. The Grade 1s’ first exposure to Outdoor Education takes place when they participate in the ‘Expedition Week’. This involves basic map reading, pitching tents, first aid, knot-tying and paddling. The Grade 2 children go on a two-day camp alongside the Breede River and the Grade 3s complete a three-day camp where they lay the foundations of many outdoor skills.
In the Senior Preparatory, the children build on their knowledge of the outdoors and learn to apply the skills developed over the previous years. These include: responsible firemaking, shelter building, first aid, rope work and map reading, amongst other important skills of hiking, group work and leadership development. The Grade 4s and 5s undertake three-day camps, while the 6s are challenged further by attending a four-day camp. After Grade 7, the children end their year with the ‘Grade 7 Experience’ – an action-packed, week-long adventure in the Matroosberg Mountains. Activities include hiking, cycling, paddling, camping, abseiling, rock climbing, solo time and archery.
Children leave the Preparatory School after seven years of exciting outdoor camps and activities, amongst all the many other things they are exposed to. They do, however, have much to look forward to at Somerset College Senior School as they continue with a further four years of fantastic adventures in the outdoors.
Quentin du Toit
HEAD OF PREPARATORY OUTDOOR EDUCATION