The Class 6 winter camp was a roaring success! Meeting the curriculum and the needs of an energetic class, this camp offered an opportunity for the children to take responsibility, support each other and have a wonderful experience of the snow, as well as the national capital, where students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage, and democracy.
We had a great team of five adults supporting the two classes and the children felt held, safe and secure; and within that, they felt free. We were fortunate to stay in the classrooms of some beautiful Steiner schools along the way, Lorien Novalis in Sydney, Orana in Canberra and the Blue Mountains Steiner School on our way home. It is great for our Shearwater students to see different Steiner schools around Australia acting from the artistic impulse.
The curriculum we study in Class 6 includes Astronomy, Geology, Australian Government and Physical Education and the camp felt like an extension of the work we do in class. We studied the night sky and tracked the movement of the sun, lower in the sky the further south we went; watched ice crystals fall yet form to make solids; experienced the changing landscape; and toured Parliament House, learning about the Australian Government and the development of our constitution.
Fresh snow fell, well, everywhere. We were covered in Jindabyne, fresh powder at Perisher, Smiggin Holes was our goal as children skied and boarded, tumbled and jumped their way across the mountain. Many of us saw snow fall for the very first time, it was a magical trip indeed.
Our Swiss-German room inspectors, Sven and Ken, would come alive at night to ensure the rooms were kept tidy, the shoes lined up neatly, and the bedroom manner was most acceptable. They were greeted by some great surprises as the dorm groups (6 – 8 to a room) prepared songs, dances, puppet plays and more, to greet their favourite inspectors.
Coming home their snow filled minds were engaged at Questacon, discovering the possibilities of science, and their hearts reminded of the past as we journeyed through the War Memorial Museum.
It felt like the right amount of time to be away, to be on the road, and we finished in high spirits. The adults felt so grateful to be there with the children, and the children ever grateful for what had been provided for them.
The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government contributes funding of $90 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.
Christopher Mason
