Life at RVS

Outdoor Education Camps

Our outdoor education program focuses on building and strengthening relationships, while developing skills, growing confidence and having fun. Students participate in challenge-based activities that encourage them to be creative and critical thinkers, and further develop their leadership and collaborative skills.

Year 9
Our Year 9 students attend an outdoor education camp at Whenua Iti Outdoors during Term One. During their four days, students will be completing activities such as:
  • Adventure-based learning activities which may include high ropes, flying kiore, trapeze, tower climbing or abseiling
  • Beach skills activities such as kayaking, coasteering, raft Building, or abseiling at Kaka point
  • Rock climbing

Year 8
Year 8 students experience a three-day tramp during Term One. This tramp serves a number of purposes:
  • as a bonding experience for the year group;​
  • ​as a personal challenge;
  • to fulfil criteria for the Honours Programme;
  • ​an opportunity for students to try something new; and
  • to discover the beautiful scenery this region has to offer.
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The second camp occurs during Term Four and is designed to give our Years 7 and 8 students an outdoor educational experience that involves the following (over a two-year period):
  • kayaking;​
  • sailing;
  • ​hiking;
  • ​orienteering;
  • tenting;
  • ​camp cooking;
  • team building;
  • ​outdoor biology;
  • ​challenging comfort zones; and
  • ​seeing God in creation.

Our outdoor education programme locations may include:
  • Mistletoe Bay​
  • Pine Valley Outdoor Centre, Mt Richmond Forest Park
  • Bridge Valley Camp, near Nelson.