Rationale:
The school's camping program enables students to further their learning and
social skills development in a non-school setting. Camps may have a cultural,
environmental or outdoor emphasis and are an important aspect of the educational
programs offered at our school.
Aims:
- To provide children in grades 5 & 6 with the opportunity to participate
in a camping program.
- To provide shared class experiences and a sense of group cohesiveness.
- To reinforce and extend classroom learnings.
- To provide a program that delivers skills and knowledge that may lead to
a lifelong involvement in worthwhile leisure pursuits.
- To provide a program that promotes self-esteem, resourcefulness, independence,
leadership, judgement, cooperation and tolerance.
Implementation
- The School Council will ensure that all school camps are offered
at a reasonable and affordable cost, and comply with all DE&T requirements.
- The December edition of the school newsletter will provide parents with
approximate dates and costs associated with the following year's camps.
- All camps will be budgeted for at the beginning of the year with detailed
and accurate costing presented to the Principal. Parents will be notified
of the exact costs and other relevant details of individual camps as soon
as practicable.
- Students will not be excluded from camps simply for financial reasons.
Parents experiencing financial difficulty, who wish for their children to
attend camp, will be required to discuss their individual situation with
the Principal. Decisions relating to alternative payment arrangements will
be made by the Principal on a case-by-case basis.
- The designated "Teacher in Charge" of each camp will ensure that all camps,
bus arrangements and camp activities comply with DE&T guidelines. The "Notification
of School Activity" form will be completed and forwarded to DE&T three weeks
prior to the camp departure date. Parents must provide written permission
for their children to attend the camp, as well as a completed "Confidential
Medical Information for School Council Approved Excursions" form.
- Classroom teachers will be given the first option to attend camps.
- The school will provide a Level 2 First Aid person on each camp.
- The school will provide a mobile phone for all camps.
- A vehicle will be available at each camp site.
- A senior staff member will be in attendance at school whilst the children
are returning from camp. The Teacher in Charge will communicate with this
person in regards the anticipated return time.
- Only children who have displayed sensible, reliable behaviour at school
will be invited to participate in the camping program. Parents will be notified
if a child is in danger of losing their invitation to participate in a camping
experience due to poor behaviour at school. If the unsatisfactory behaviour
continues, the child will then be excluded from camp. The decision to exclude
a student will be made by the Principal, in consultation with the classroom
teacher and parents will be notified.
- Parents will be requested to collect their child from camp if their child
exhibits behaviour that is considered unacceptable. The Teacher in Charge,
in consultation with the Principal, will make this decision. Costs incurred
will be the responsibility of the parent.
- All camps require School Council approval. This approval is sought at
a scheduled meeting at least three weeks prior to the departure date. Information
presented to the School Council will include:
- The educational aims and objectives of the camp.
- The names of all adults attending and their expertise and experience.
- Travel arrangements and costs.
- Venue details and an itinerary of events.
- Procedures followed to ensure the safety of the children.
- Details on the number of students excluded from camp.
- Alternative program for students not attending camp.
- The First Aid officer will be identified.
- The above information will be provided to the Principal at least a week
before the School Council meeting date.
Evaluation:
This policy will be reviewed annually at the conclusion of the school's camps
program, and as part of the school's three-year review cycle.
An evaluation proforma will be completed by all attending staff at the conclusion
of the camp.
This policy was last ratified by School Council in.... October
2002