Year 7 Bushrangers Experience: Learning to Survive and Thrive
On Monday 28 October, our Year 7 students traded classrooms for the great outdoors, venturing to the foothills of the Dandenongs for a hands-on Bushrangers Survival Experience. Immersed in Australian bushland, they explored what it takes to live and thrive in the wild.
Throughout the day, students learned key survival skills including how to safely build a fire, construct a shelter, find and purify water, and understand how to source food in nature. Guided by expert instructors, they tested their shelters with the ultimate challenge – could it withstand a marshmallow roast?
Students also discovered traditional hunting techniques, learning how to set traps, track animals and practice spear throwing with impressive precision. A session on basic first aid equipped them with valuable knowledge on how to respond to injuries and emergencies in the wild and how to stay calm under pressure.
Beyond the practical lessons, the experience encouraged teamwork, problem-solving and resilience. Students worked together to overcome challenges, embraced the unexpected (including a few cheeky ant bites), and strengthened their connections with one another.
By the end of the day, our Year 7s returned to school a little muddier, a little wiser and with a newfound appreciation for the resourcefulness and adaptability that define true bushrangers.
