So you’re thinking about booking a school camp? Well, you’re in the right place if you wish to find out more!
Here’s your complete guide to school camps, and everything that you’re going to need to know to choose the perfect camp for your students.
The benefits of overnight school camps
Overnight adventure camps provide students with a platform to break out of the classroom and learn beyond the textbook. Camps provide students with many opportunities for development, both academically and personally. A new experience and a different environment could be all it takes to see your students thrive and come out of their shells. An overnight school camp allows students to express themselves in different ways and can be a great experience for students to excel outside of the daily classroom learning. Here are some of the benefits of overnight school camps for students:
- Increased resilience
- Increased independence
- Gets students physically active
- Develops new life experiences
- Helps to build new relationships
- Broaden perspectives
No matter what outcomes you’re looking to get out of school camp, PGL provides a tailored program to help your students achieve those outcomes.
Find out more about our outcomes-based approach through our R.E.A.C.H Framework.
How to choose a school camp for your students?
We know you’re not just looking for the first school camp you can find. You want the best for your students, and so do we! When you’re deciding on which adventure camp would best suit your students, here are a few things to think about.
- What educational value does the school adventure camp provide?
- What outcomes do you want your students to achieve at camp?
- What type of school camp are you looking for?
- How do your options for adventure camps for students compare to your learning objectives?
- How well are the activities and the programming suited to the age group and abilities of your students?
At PGL, we are committed to helping students grow and develop in every way possible.
Our R.E.A.C.H Framework has been developed in conjunction with teachers, and based on extensive research, to ensure key learning outcomes are delivered.
For example, if you’re looking to build teamwork, communication and peer-to-peer bonding opportunities, then our UNITE! Program ticks all of these boxes.
If you’re looking to build independence and confidence for younger students, who may be away from home for the first time, then our DISCOVER! Program will be ideal for your students. This will gently take them out of their comfort zone to have first-time experiences and discover new skills that they didn’t even know they had!
Check out our blog ‘how to choose a school camp for you students’ for more.
How school camps help you build relationships with students
Another reason why adventure camps for students are so great is that they can support the development of your relationship with them! Why is this important? Well, a good relationship with your students can form strong foundations for learning, based on trust, motivation and engagement. It can also prove helpful in improving student behaviour.
School camps provide plenty of opportunities to spend time with your class, during activities and free time. Since our expert instructors have control of the sessions, you have the time to chat with your students, encourage them to push their limits, and help them with the challenges. Why not take a read of our blog ‘how school camps help you build relationships with students’ to find out more!
How is student safety ensured on school camps?
It’s safety first at PGL, and we’re happy to share everything that we have in place to ensure the safety of our guests. From our activities to emergencies and everything in between, we make sure all bases are covered when it comes to safety, and here’s how!
- Standards – we have been providing outstanding outdoor education for a long time, and we have strict standards in place to ensure that students receive the best possible experience when on a PGL camp.
- Accreditations – we are proud members of the Australian Camps Association, as well as being a Quality Tourism accredited business.
- Safeguarding training – all of our staff undergo extensive safeguarding training prior to employment, and ongoing. All of our staff hold valid Working With Children Checks (Vic) or Blue Cards (QLD).
- Instructor-led sessions – 100% of our activity and evening activity sessions are run by PGL staff who are fully trained and experienced in program delivery. We don’t leave the running of any sessions to teachers.
These are all ways that we ensure student safety at camp, showing that we have the correct policies and procedures in place to keep you safe!
A school trip packing list for your students
There’s nothing worse than arriving at camp having forgotten something, especially if it’s an important piece of kit. Not to worry, we’ve got your class covered with a school trip packing list for your students:
- Pyjamas
- Towel X2
- Pants/Leggings (3 pairs)
- Shorts (2 pairs in the summer)
- Fleece/Sweatshirt
- Long sleeved t-shirts
- Short sleeved t-shirts
- Hat
- Jeans
- Shoes/runners
- Waterproofs
- Wetbag for wet clothes
- Sleeping bag/pillow (if not included)
- Torch
- Refillable water bottle
- Toiletries
Our adventurous school camp activities
So, we’ve told you almost everything you need to know, however, we haven’t mentioned the many adventurous school camp activities that your students will be getting involved with. We’ve got a huge list of activities available to you, including some water-based activities. Here are some student favourites:
- Canoeing
- Aeroball
- Bush craft
- Centipede
- Flying fox
- Crate stacking
- Mud run
- Team challenge
- Leap of Faith
- Raft building
Dive deeper into our activities in our blog ‘adventurous school camp activities’.
Book your school camp with PGL!
Now you know all about adventure camps for students, why not check out our school camps which include primary school camps and secondary school camps, located at Campaspe Downs (VIC), Camp Rumbug (VIC) and Kindilan (QLD).
Your group are at the heart of what we do at PGL. We put safety first with 100% instructor-led activity sessions, which also allows you to bond with your students rather than running the sessions yourself, as you usually would in the classroom. Your PGL groupies are also always available for any questions you or your students may have, just ask!
Why not contact us today and we’ll be on hand to help arrange a fantastic school camp for you and your group!
