Geelong Grammar students go bush

GEELONG Grammar students have taken the opportunity to get hands-on in nature and complete the Bushcraft Survival Australia (BSA) course.

BSA is designed to transform the way students connect with nature, offering a tailored survival course for all skill levels.

The training provides challenging and educational experiences, helping students develop their problem solving, teamwork, self-discipline and leadership skills.

Geelong Grammar acting head of adventure education Mel Ridley also got to experience the course with students, saying the benefits were wide-ranging.

“I think when I step away from the weekend experience with the kids, I’ve been able to witness that sense of awe and that sense of wonder that you’re having with this age group,” she said.

“In today’s society where we see these kids in pretty controlled environments, they’re in a structured classroom; a lot of the time in our context, these kids are boarders, they’re in the same environment for a lot of their day-to-day.

“When we take them out there, I see this childhood wonder that comes back where they so naturally are curious and wanting to get grubby and dirty and do simple things.”

Through the course, pitched towards middle school students, they learn how to survive in the bush, constructing shelters, sourcing food and water, rescue signalling and more.

“We’re really looking at getting our kids’ confidence up in the outdoors and allowing them to build skills and really a general fascination and curiosity about being outside,” Ms Ridley said.

Focused on building practical knowledge, the program has a number of aims, including to reconnect students with nature and provide them with an opportunity to learn life skills.

BSA founder and senior instructor Gordon Dedman is the survival consultant from the Alone Australia TV show and a military survival instructor.

All other qualified instructors are also trained in military and civilian survival and bushcraft.

Ms Ridley encouraged other schools to get involved with the program and the opportunity to experience the benefits.