Outdoor & Environmental Studies

Course Summary

Do you like interacting with the natural environment? Are you adventurous? Studying Outdoor and Environmental Studies will enable you to make critically informed comments on questions of environmental sustainability, as well as, you’ll understand the importance of environmental health, particularly in local contexts. Through both passive and active outdoor activities, you will develop experiential knowledge of outdoor environments. This is further enhanced through the complex interplay between outdoor environment and humans including environmental history, ecology and the social studies of human relationships with nature.

Unit 1 examines some of the ways in which people understand and relate to nature through experiences of outdoor environments.

Unit 2 focuses on the characteristics of outdoor environments and our impacts on them.

What motivates individuals towards outdoor environments and experiences?
How have people interacted with outdoor environments? What happens now? How does the natural environment impact on humans and what impact are humans having on outdoor environments?

Unit 3 looks at the ecological, historical and social effects of people on the Australian environment. Unit 4 explores the sustainable use and management of outdoor environments.

What ecological, historical and social contexts help us think about relationships between humans and outdoor environments in Australia?
What about conservation? How can outdoor environments be maintained?
Can human needs and the needs of outdoor environments be balanced?
Adventure activities include bushwalking, white water rafting and other activities chosen to meet student and course requirements.

VCE: Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3 & 4 sequence available

Learning Activities & Assessment

Explore some of the ways in which people understand and relate to nature through experiences of the outdoor environment
Explore what motivates individuals towards outdoor environments and experiences, how people interact with the outdoor environment
Develop adventure skills in rock climbing, snow camping, skiing and boarding, bushwalking, horse riding or surfing including termly overnight/s outdoor activities
Investigate the ecological, historical and social effects of people on the Australian environment
Explore the sustainable use and management of outdoor environments

FAQ’s & Myth Busters

Will I miss too much school if I study Outdoor & Environmental Studies?

OED trips are only once a term for 3 to 4 days duration. In fact, the student who received the third highest ATAR score for 2019 did all the OED trips (as well as being involved in many of the sports teams).

Outdoor & Environmental Studies is too expensive

Whilst some trips do cost up to $260 there are always lower-cost options and payment plans available. Even the more expensive trips do offer excellent value for money. For example, the four-day surfing trip offered to Unit 2 students includes three surfing sessions, one surf kayak session, all gear and wetsuits, professional instruction, meals, accommodation and transport – all for approx. $260.

Do I need a lot of expensive gear to do outdoor & Environment Studies?

At the College, we have a large range of outdoor adventure gear that can be borrowed for adventure trips. You only have to have a good sleeping bag and we recommend that you buy thermals for the colder months’ activities.