The Outdoor Education Foundation and the Alice Sloan Trust have come together to run a new community-funded initiative called A Weekend of Fun and Friendship.
The event hosted 33 young girls from Melbourne’s north from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds to Camp Jungai in Rubicon.
Students from three schools took part in the camp, Hume Central Secondary College, Roxburgh College and Glenroy College.
The weekend long program consisted of bushwalking, orienteering, high ropes courses and canoeing. There was also an opportunity for learning about empowerment with the Be your Own Superhero seminar—presented by resilience expert Dr Casey Delmara.
Hume Central Secondary College teacher Auri Parker felt this was an avenue that allowed the girls to flourish.
“Prior to the trip, many of the students expressed they were feeling stressed with school and life, and were still building up their confidence. Stepping out of their comfort zone and making new friendships supported these students to build resilience and important positive self-esteem, while refreshing their outlook on school and their world,” Ms Parker said.
The pilot program was a means to help build friendships, both new and old and a learning experience of a different kind after emerging from two years of isolation due to COVID.
The Outdoor Education Foundation’s Lucy Menting said: “It’s essential we connect our young people with the outdoors and each other again. Proving opportunities for leadership, teamwork and exploration have never been more critical.”
