In Year 8, students embark on their co-educational academic camp known as The Bannockburn Experience. This experience sits within our Altius program and develops the learning dispositions of humanity through global mindedness, sustainable farming and rewilding practices, and courage in thought leadership through problem solving and risk-taking in a new and exciting environment.
The week begins at Scots’ campus, where students take part in mixer activities to build connections and hear from the managers of Bannockburn, Mr and Mrs McMaster, about their regenerative farming and rewilding practices under the ethos of ‘stewardship of the land.’
At Bannockburn, students apply Science and Geography skills — such as water testing, soil profiling, and pit trapping — to collect ecological data and explore how it informs sustainable land management. They also meet with Indigenous elders to understand how traditional practices are integrated into the site, speak with WWF representatives about the quoll rewilding project, and learn from an apiarist about the vital role of bees in the ecosystem.
The week concludes back at Scots, where students reflect on their findings and present ideas on how their data could guide the future of Bannockburn.
Students describe the experience as:
“The quolls are intriguing to learn about — seeing one is exhilarating.”
“We learn about data collection and collaboration, but most importantly how to work with each other and take responsibility.”
“It is really interesting to see how boys and girls bring different perspectives to learning.”
“I love how holistic it is — seeing how everything in the environment interacts, and the stars at night are amazing.”
A big thank you to the staff of both Kambala and The Scots College for creating such a meaningful, innovative and future-focused program — an exciting start to an ongoing partnership.
Ms Freya Campion
Head of Curriculum Experiences