Westventure

Bringing students face to face with their potential 

An extension of Westminster School’s Outdoor Education Program, Westventure is a signature experience offered to Year 9 students, building on the skills derived from the Year 7 and Year 8 Outdoor Education camp curricula. Westminster School recognises that the outdoor setting offers a powerful medium for achieving many aspects of the School’s educational philosophy. We believe that by taking students away from their everyday, comfortable environment into a place of perceived uncertainty, we can engage students in learning that might not be possible in an urban context or day-program. Many activities are conducted on the School property, Glenroy, in the first week and the majestic Coorong in the second week. The program is facilitated by a full-time staff of one teacher and five instructors who plan and lead the whole experience. With a strong focus on Wellbeing, this is a critical age to focus on building self-esteem, responsibility, resourcefulness, teamwork, and communication skills. The challenges provided by these outdoor experiences are used as a means to an end, the development of positive and important life-skills. Facing challenges, setting goals, working individually or in a group (often outside of their comfort zone) prepares students for the rest of their school life. For many students, it is the experience of a lifetime.

Westventure seeks to promote self-discovery, interactive social skills, as well as a more holistic understanding of the natural world through experiential, adventurous, and environmental education. Westventure provides students with outdoor learning experiences that are processed, reflected upon and integrated into the students’ lives. These experiences are designed to challenge both the individual and the group physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Westventure prides itself on its contribution to Westminster’s mission to inspire students to thrive, build positive and meaningful lives and inspire students to face their future with confidence.

Westventure operates under the premise that role modelling sensible decision-making with respect to risks is inherent to the experiential learning process. Using the natural world as a classroom affords us many opportunities to expand the participant’s life experience and encourage personal growth. Support, trust and respect are valued and promoted throughout all phases of instruction and trip management.  Our environmental ethic is such that we enter all our program areas as visitors and practice minimum impact camping skills that promote respect and understanding of the natural environment. Westventure aims to instill a connection with nature that will encourage the students to continue to pursue outdoor activities in the future.