by Clare Rayner

Investigating Natural and Unnatural Environments Around

Philip Island

Our New Year 11 OES group were ready to journey to Phillip Island for their investigation. We left the school in rainy, gale force winds Tuesday afternoon. The rain and wind continued throughout the night reaching gusts of 80km per hour at times with heavy rain impacting our tents.

Throughout their first camp the students coped very well; cooking some healthy evening meals on camp stoves at Rhyll foreshore, before a stormy sunset walk between the heavy showers. The students continued to work hard and make the most of their activities going from studying Rangers work, to surfing and then onto the Penguin Parade for the evening activities assessing the management strategies used by Island Nature Parks.

The students embraced the school values right from the word go and continued when working with the volunteers at the Philip Island historical society, investigating the Island’s past as well as its current events.

All their work was put to a final test with a 10km walk at Cape Woolamai Faunal Reserve, this time embracing the sun which was a refreshing change, investigating the coastal and heath ecosystems.

Well done to all, we had a great camp, full of learning and surrounded by constant challenges, fun and laughs. A great job to all!