Outdoor Classroom and Camps
To nurture the whole child through education requires recognition that children are learning all the time. In a contemporary, urban school context, challenges of modern life are addressed through curriculum, and through consideration of the spaces we teach and learn in. Our natural environment, and the learning that happens in the Outdoor Classroom is integral to our children’s learning.
The Outdoor Classroom as a curriculum area, is a great source of pride at Milkwood. Our grounds and outdoor play spaces extend to beautiful native bushland. Our Curriculum ensures a large percentage of each day is spent outdoors with practical experiences of learning in nature. Our buildings’ design incorporates sustainable tropical architecture, with large, sheltered outdoor learning spaces and cool open classrooms surrounded by louvered walls. Our school bus allows for regular excursions to our local surrounds. Regular excursions to sites of cultural and environmental significance occur from Class 1. Class Camps commence from Class 3.
Some recent causes for celebration in areas of Outdoor Classroom include
- Milkwood as finalist for excellence in Natural Resource Management’s Next Generation award (2020 and 2021)
- Landcare award recipients for our Fruit Orchard
- Landcare award recipients for our Pollinator Garden
- Horse Riding, orienteering, swimming classes
- Bush tucker walks
- Yolngu Spear making
- Harvesting pandanus fibres for basket and fish trap weaving