Adventure club HPGE enrichment program | Stage 3 | PDHPE, science and technology
Program overview
Adventure club is a one-day, multi-domain HPGE enrichment program where Stage 3 students learn practical bushcraft and navigation skills in Field of Mars Reserve. Working in teams, students set up a shared minimal impact basecamp, practise pacing and compass bearings, and complete a navigation challenge to collect essential resources for building their own mini campsites. Throughout the day, students document skills, diagrams, maps and reflections in a take-home bushcraft journal, building independence, leadership, problem-solving and environmental awareness in an authentic bushland context.
Learning intentions
- We are learning to apply observation, navigation and teamwork skills to operate safely and effectively in a bushland environment.
- We are learning to record, explain and evaluate outdoor skills using maps, diagrams, data and precise vocabulary.
Activities
Bushcraft journal and bushwalk
Students receive a bushcraft journal, compass, map and pencil, and practise quick notes, a labelled diagram and a simple sketch map. They also participate in a short guided bushwalk to develop observation skills by identifying useful plants, natural materials, the sun’s position and animal evidence.
Basecamp
Students work in teams to set up tents and tarps, selecting their sites carefully based sun, wind and ground conditions. They then complete a hazard assessment, practise safe tent pegging and learn how to use simple knots to tension and secure their shelters.
Terrain and navigation
During a short trust walk, students calculate a pace count over 10 metres to estimate distance. They then discuss potential sources of error like slope fatigue terrain and distractions and how to improve reliability. Additionally, students learn compass basics and follow a sequence of bearings to locate and collect resources, recording key bearings and route decisions.
Build and reflect
Students construct short raffia cordage and use collected materials to build a small campsite near the base camp. This campsite features low-impact camouflage. A staff member demonstrates campfire setup and pack-up procedures, including fully extinguishing the fire under suitable conditions. Students then roll and secure a tarp and showcase their skills before completing a brief journal reflection.
This program is only available to NSW Department of Education schools
Location
Field of Mars Reserve
Main location – including risk assessment, maps and track overview.
Teachers or parents will need to drop off and pick up students.
Westminster Road alternate entrance
This entrance or exit offers access during severe high tides and heavy rainfall events that cause flooding on the main Pittwater Road entrance.
Essential information
Cost and details
Cost |
$60 per student - GST free This will be processed through the student's home school. This program is only available to NSW Department of Education school students. |
Dates |
Available dates |
Transport |
Schools are required to organise transport for students to and from the location. No vehicles are permitted into Field of Mars Reserve. |
Staff |
Teachers are not required to attend but are welcome. |
Student selection |
Maximum 8 students per school per day. When choosing your students, remember the program takes place indoors, outdoors and in public spaces. Students may be near creeks and bushland tracks. While EEC teachers supervise them all day, consider if they’ll need SLSO or teacher support to stay safe. |
Bring |
Sports uniform, backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes, reusable name tag. |
View |
Preparing for your excursion |
Welfare |
Participants will be walking during the day on an accessible boardwalk. Wheelchair accessible. May not suit recently unwell participants. For medical or special needs notify staff prior to program. |
Extreme or wet weather |
Program may be modified, postponed or cancelled due to predicted extreme temperatures, bush fire danger, heavy rainfall, high winds or dust storms. |
Booking policy |
Confirm student details 7 days in advance. |
Cancellation fee |
Less than 4 weeks notice – full cost Weather or fire danger cancellation – $0 |
Suggested timetable
Time |
Activities |
| 9.15 | Arrival |
| 9.30 - 10.30 | Bushcraft journal and bushwalk |
| 10.30 - 11.00 | Recess |
| 11.00 - 11.45 | Basecamp |
| 11.45 - 12.30 | Terrain and navigation |
| 12.30 - 1.00 | Lunch |
| 1.00 - 2.00 | Build and reflect |
| 2.15 | Depart |
Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary
Syllabus outcomes and content
Syllabus outcomes and content Stage 3
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education K-6 (2024)
Self-management and interpersonal skills
Outcomes
- Evaluates and applies self-management and interpersonal skills in a range of contexts PH3-SMI-01
Content
Self-management skills are supported by informed decisions
- Apply problem-solving and decision-making actions across contexts
- Explain and demonstrate when resilience strategies can be applied across a range of contexts
Interpersonal skills enhance positive interactions and effective communication
- Apply and evaluate interpersonal skills to make decisions that support the wellbeing of themselves and others
- Describe and demonstrate respectful and effective communication to promote leadership, inclusion and collaboration
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024
Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024) - Stage 3
Design and digital technologies engineer sustainable solutions
Outcomes
- uses design processes to create, evaluate and modify designed solutions ST3-DDT-01
Content
Design and digital technologies engineer sustainable solutions
- Develop design ideas to build a prototype using design criteria
- Test, evaluate and modify the prototype to meet the design criteria
Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024
Book now
Book your HPGE program using our online booking form.
Learning resources
View online lessons that support primary incursion and excursion programs.
Flora and fauna fact sheets
View our curriculum-aligned fact sheets on Australian animals, plants, ecosystems and environments for NSW primary and secondary students, ideal for research, projects and classroom learning.