Taking learning into the great outdoors
STUDENTS at Hobart College who are excited by the opportunities that Tasmania’s booming adventure tourism sector offers can undertake a pretertiary course in outdoor leadership.
This course offers pathways into nature-based, sustainable, recreational, economic and serviceoriented careers.
The subject is academically demanding but also provides regular opportunities for active leadership in a range of outdoor recreation activities including bushwalking and extended expeditions, rockclimbing, kayaking, rafting, surfing and snorkelling.
Students learn about the nature of leadership, group and risk management, communication and effective organisational skills. Combining a rigorous outdoor program with a demanding written theory component means that students need to be committed and hardworking.
“It’s great to be able to learn about modern leadership while doing what you love in the outdoors,” said Keeley Williams, an enthusiastic rock climber, horse rider and Year 12 student, who also studies mathematics, physics and chemistry.
As well as adventure tourism and outdoor guiding, the course attracts students interested in careers in environmental science, emergency services, the defence forces and in teaching and training.
Recent graduates of the Hobart College outdoor leadership classes are now training to be biologists, teachers, police officers and paramedics.
Several of last year’s students are currently on the Cradle Mountain Overland Track training as professional guides.
Current students find the course to be stimulating and a great preparation for university study, TasTAFE and employment in the burgeoning adventure tourism market.
Pascal Gee, a talented soccer player and student of philosophy and history said outdoor leadership was a fantastic course and great opportunity to meet and work with a great group of students and teachers, “whether we are in the classroom or out in our beautiful local environment.”
Students recently participated in a weekend excursion to Tasman National Park where they honed their leadership skills walking to Cape Hauy on the Three Capes Track, dived on a shipwreck and practised sustainable camping and catering at remote Bivouac Bay.