Singapore minister visits Nayook outdoor camp
Singapore’s Education Minister NG Chee Meng visited Rubicon Outdoor Centre at Nayook recently.
The Minister and his team visited the centre to look at how components of the Victorian school curriculum can be taught by learning outdoors.
The Minister was also interested in how school programs such as Rubicon’s build resilience and character, and foster entrepreneur attitudes, accomplished by students overcoming challenges and problem solving situations, often in new and difficult situations.
The Minister’s aim is to have all Singaporean year nine students participate in such an experience by 2020.
Another highlight for the Mr Meng was to meet Singaporean exchange interns who were at Nayook learning new skills from the resident teachers.
The visit to Nayook formed part of the Minister’s trip to visit the Department of Education and Training Victoria, following its international reputation for delivering excellence in outdoor learning.
Rubicon Outdoor Centre is a state government school delivering education programs to government students from across Victoria. It comprises of two campuses, one near Thornton and the other at Nayook.
Rubicon Outdoor Centre has more than 3000 students attend its campuses each year. Minimal use is made of traditional classrooms, with the outdoor environment providing learning areas for building leadership capacity, personal development, teamwork and environmental education.
Rubicon Outdoor Centre is a member of Residential Outdoor Schools Association, which comprises of four schools and seven campuses with the vision that “all state school students participate in quality, education-based residential outdoor programs”.
The programs aim to develop an enhanced student understanding of self and others and to facilitate the development of a caring attitude towards the environment and society.
The Rubicon Outdoor Centre offers programs for schools under the following categories: Years 7-10 components of the Victorian cur- riculum, VCE Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies, VCAL program specifically focused on personal development skills, teamwork, challenge, and leadership and Students with Special Needs programs that are negotiated with schools that are designed to meet individual needs.