After a significant period of home-learning, Xavier College is committed to ensuring all students can engage closely and respectfully with natural environments and global cultures. It is more important than ever for students to immerse themselves in the world around them.
Expedition programs at the college aim to put meaningful purpose at the heart of learning. Over the first Semester of 2021, students braved the pristine Mornington Peninsula waters to swim with seals, journeyed along Anglesea’s rugged coastline, canoed along Warrandyte’s bending Birrarung (Yarra River) and much, much more. These day expeditions are centred around “growth” and “exploration” frameworks, aimed at fostering positive wellbeing and personal development. The program provides opportunities for students to engage with nature, challenge themselves and build relationships with their peers.
In the Junior Schools, students embrace Outdoor Education camps in country and rural Victoria where they participate in activities such as canoeing, bushwalking, high ropes courses and confidence building exercises. Many senior students travel overseas for activities associated with music, sport, service and global engagement. In recent years, Xavier College supported a Wind Ensemble tour in the UK, an Athletics tour in Europe, a Water Polo tour in the US and a World Challenge trip to Peru, as well as annual overseas Immersion trips to assist marginalised communities. Closer to home, students travel to Indigenous communities to learn more about the history and culture of our land, centring on Indigenous perspectives. In working to pursue critically a depth of learning, students are taught to first reflect on these experiences, then move to action. Border closures have unfortunately put a pause on a number of these opportunities, but students are looking towards many of these exciting trips in the future. In the meantime, various “retreats” and “gauntlet” getaways allow senior students to reflect in natural environments about their position in the world around them.
The college’s Outdoor Education also incorporates numerous on-campus projects to bring in the natural world while providing outdoor learning opportunities. Gardening projects are sprouting on the Junior and Senior campuses, and provide the context for climate change education.
To learn more about the Expeditions program, visit the Xavier College website: https://www.xavier.vic.edu.au/our-programs/our-expeditions
Xavier College was founded in 1878 and is a Jesuit school. The Senior Campus stands on 40 acres, 6 kilometres […]