06 March 2026
During Week 5, the Year 4 cohort travelled to our Finniss campsite for their Outdoor Education camp. Returning to a familiar campsite, Year 4 camp encourages students to be comfortable away from home while engaging in activities designed to broaden knowledge of Ngarrindjeri culture. This three-day experience, saw classes participate in a rotation of four activities at Finniss with one day dedicated to an off-site adventure at Goolwa.
Uncle Cedric Varcoe welcomed us onto Country upon our arrival at camp and we were lucky enough to complete an art workshop with the reknowned artist. Cedric’s artwork ‘Ramindjeri Ruwe Ngarrindjeri Dreamin’ hangs at the Kuti Shack in Goolwa, which we got to view on our excursion day. Also at Finniss, students built natural shelters, sometimes called “wurleys”, “wadlis” or “humpys”.
Resourcefulness and creativity shone through as small groups worked together to erect a shelter using natural materials foraged from the surrounding bushland. With a focus on teamwork, classes completed the Finniss Adventure course. Requiring basic orienteering skills, groups work their way to checkpoints each with a team challenge to complete. After completing each challenge, groups receive a clue to their next checkpoint.
This culminates in having to locate the treasure chest in which a prize awaits! Venturing down to the lagoon, students spent time in reflection using their journals. Every student receives a journal for their Outdoor Education journey at St Peter’s College. This journal is returned to them each time they are on camp and is a useful way of tracking progress over the years.
On Thursday we ventured to Goolwa for time on the beach and a bush tucker walk through the dunes. The walk began at the Goolwa Barrage where spotting the seals was a hit! We learned about various plants and their uses (and tastes!) while wandering to the beach for a go at cockling. It was a big day out and the students returned to Finniss ready to wind down for their second night staying out in a tent.
Thank you to the Outdoor Education facilitators, Year 4 teachers and Junior School staff for their care and support of our young men during their stay. Thank you also to Henry and Archie, our School Captains, for spending time with us. We look forward to building on these outdoor skills when the students return for Year 5 camp in 2027.
Lisa Rowlands
Outdoor Education Program Manager
