Handbook - BOEC · With regards to water activities, schools are required to have all student band...

Handbook

Batchelor Outdoor Education Centre – Handbook 1

Table of Contents

General Information ............................................................................................................................................... 2

Staff ................................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Facilities ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5

BOEC Site Plan ......................................................................................................................................................... 6

BOEC Locality Plan ................................................................................................................................................ 7

Pricing ........................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Activities .................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Additional Activities ............................................................................................................................................ 15

Health and Safety.................................................................................................................................................. 17


General Information

Batchelor Outdoor Education Centre (BOEC) is located in the township of Batchelor, 100km south of Darwin, and the gateway to Litchfield National Park. Contact Us Lot 313 Tarkarri Road, C/- Batchelor Area School Batchelor Post Office Batchelor, NT 0845 Tel: (08) 8976 0117 Fax: (08) 8976 0362 Email: [email protected] www.boec.com.au

We are here, opposite the General Store

General Store

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.boec.com.au/


Useful contacts Emergency 000 Batchelor Police Station (08) 8976 0015 Batchelor Community Health Care Centre (08) 8976 0011 Batchelor Area School (08) 8976 0077 Batchelor General Store (08) 8976 0045 Batchelor Swimming Pool (08) 8976 0192 Coomalie Community Government Council (08) 8976 0058 Who we are BOEC provides outdoor education and recreational experiences to schools and community groups. BOEC ensures that all students have the opportunity to participate in quality outdoor education experiences as part of a balanced curriculum for both primary and secondary students. BOEC is available for hire by business and community groups looking for an ideal setting to host conferences, workshops, wellbeing retreats, team and leadership building and for private functions such as weddings. What we provide Accommodation in two and four bedroom blocks (capacity 108), a large modern dining hall and commercial kitchen (walk in fridge, freezer and pantry). Large hall is fitted with TV and DVD player to provide the technology required for presentations, workshops and conferences. Catering can be arranged on request. A little bit of history In 1971 the Northern Territory Department of Education set up the Batchelor Education Village, comprising the Batchelor Area School, Batchelor Conference Centre and the Batchelor Field Centre. The houses situated on Lots 80 to 86 in Mardango Crescent were used as accommodation for the Field Centre, the beginning of what is now called the Batchelor Outdoor Education Centre. In 1986 the NT Government handed over BOEC’s present site to Batchelor Area School. The dormitories were originally built to house some of the single men who worked at the Rum Jungle uranium mine. The mine is no longer operational; it was left to fill with water and is now referred to as the Rum Jungle Lake. The present day kitchen and dining hall was the original location for the dining rooms for the single people who worked at the mine, only it has been demolished, rebuilt and modernised.


Staff

The BOEC has two full time highly skilled and qualified outdoor education teachers with the Northern Territory Department of Education. In addition, BOEC employs permanent and part time Instructors, trainees and casuals to assist with larger groups. All staff has current St John First Aid and RLSSA Bronze Medallion or Pool Lifeguard as well as other qualifications in outdoor recreation education. Further details regarding qualifications will be happily provided on request.


Facilities

Accommodation BOEC has five dormitory style accommodation blocks.

Blocks 1, 2 and 3 has 12 rooms with 2 beds per room (72 people in total), toilets and showers. Rooms have fans only;

Block 4 has 4 rooms with 4 beds per room (16 people in total), medium kitchen, outdoor covered dining area, disabled toilet and showers. Rooms are air-conditioned;

Block 5 has 10 rooms with 2 beds per room (20 people in total); toilets and showers. Rooms are air-conditioned.

Please note that we do not supply any pillows, sheets or blankets. Kitchen, Dining and Activities Block BOEC offers a large modern kitchen, dining and activities block. Kitchen is fully equipped with walk in fridge, freezer and pantry, ice machine, bain-marie, ovens, microwaves, pots, pans and cooking utensils. Schools have the option of self-catering or catering can be provided through our Area School Canteen (refer to attached Camp Menu). We have an all-weather outdoor dining area that will comfortably seat 80 students, gas barbecues and extra tables for serving. This area also has fans. The large activities hall is equipped with TV and DVD player and is perfect for group activities such as table tennis, watching movies or presentations. Tables and chairs provided. Please note no cutlery or crockery is provided. All food and drink to be brought in by school if self-catering. Cleaning and Care It is an expectation that all accommodation blocks including toilets and showers, the Kitchen, Dining and Activities Block is left in a clean and tidy state. Should the facilities require extra cleaning; an additional $200 will apply. Any wilful damage to BOEC property/facilities will also attract an additional charge depending on the damage and circumstances. A minimum charge of $100 will apply per incident. It will be helpful if teachers discuss the issue of vandalism with the students and the consequences prior to their visit to avoid such incidents. Loss of keys will incur a replacement charge.


BOEC Site Plan


BOEC Locality Plan


Pricing

School Groups Pricing options as follows:

2.5 Day Program - $82.50 (Incl. of GST) per student;

4 nights/5 days Program - $132 (Incl. of GST) per student; and

Single or additional nights - $33 (Incl. of GST) per student, per night. Price covers activities with qualified BOEC instructors and accommodation. Some activities have additional charges. Visiting teachers and adult helpers are free of charge at a ratio of one adult per 10 students (excludes meals). Additional visiting teachers and adult helpers cost $33 (Incl. of GST) per adult, per night. Catering is available up to $40 (Incl. of GST) per person, per day. Catering options includes continental breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and dessert. Please refer to attached Catering Request Form if catering is required. Please note that we require all catering requests six weeks prior to your camp. School groups larger than 54 will require additional discussion with the BOEC staff. In order for students to have a quality outdoor education experience we need to coordinate group sizes, instructors, visiting teachers and adult helpers. Damper (Camp Cooking) activity is an additional $25 for the activity. Activities requiring bus transport e.g. Lake activities such as canoeing and kayaking incur an additional fee of $30 per bus load (capacity 20 passengers) per round trip. Weekends and School Holidays BOEC is available on weekends and school holidays for adults, non-school groups and school groups. Accommodation cost is $33 (Incl. of GST) per person, per night. If the camp is a youth camp, one supervising adult per 12 students will be provided free of charge. Instructors are available at an additional charge. Catering on weekends is available at an additional charge. Price will be determined based on catering requirements. Please note that BOEC equipment will not be available for hire to weekend groups unless suitably qualified instructors are in attendance. Cost to be determined depending on equipment required. Private Functions BOEC is available for hire to facilitate private functions on weekends such as weddings, celebrations or corporate team building. Cost to be negotiated depending on numbers and requirements.


Booking Procedure Due to the high demand each school is only permitted one week block per year. Bookings for 2017 are open in January 2016 and so on for future years. Please complete the attached Booking Request and email back to [email protected] BOEC staff will process your request and email a Booking Confirmation. A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking. No later than six weeks prior to your camp you will also be required to complete the attached Camp Co-ordination Form. At this point we will need to know information such as student numbers, activities, catering, arrival, departure etc. so that an activity program can be issued. Bookings for fewer than 40 students may need to share with other schools.

mailto:[email protected]


Activities

BOEC provides a wide range of excellent opportunities for all students to engage in challenging and enjoyable outdoor education experiences. The BOEC staff will work with each school to develop an appropriate activity program suitable for the group prior to your camp. The targeted learning area in the curriculum is Health and Physical Education which also integrates with Science and Geography. The Batchelor Outdoor Education Program - Strength through Challenge which is aligned to the Australian curriculum is attached. Areas of achievement include:

Critical and creative thinking;

Personal and social capability;

Significance of physical activity participation to health and wellbeing;

Demonstrate fair play and skills to work collaboratively;

Create connections with the natural and built environment;

Perform specialised skills, sequences and propose; and

Combine movement concepts and strategies to achieve movement outcomes and solve movement challenges.

The following activities are available and included in the cost:

Mountain bike riding Archery High and low ropes courses

Rock climbing Snorkeling Whips

Orienteering Bird watching Team building

Canoeing Kayaking Camp cooking (Damper)

Optimal number of students per group activity is 16-18. With regards to water activities, schools are required to have all student band information available prior to attending camp. If you do not have bands for the students, BOEC can provide. BOEC staff will also test students before they enter the water as per School Swimming, Water Safety Programs and Aquatic Activities Procedures. Students are required to wear life jackets at all times while in the Lake or natural water features at Litchfield National Park.


All activities are conducted under the guidance and supervision of experienced staff. They follow nationally recognised safety procedures and consequently the activities themselves present little risk to student’s safety. However, prior to signing permission forms, parents need to be well informed as to the risks associated with the particular activities in which their children will participate. The following statement may provide some assistance when writing to parents:

Batchelor Outdoor Education Centre (BOEC) offers an extensive range of adventure activities for school groups. Canoeing, rock climbing, archery, high ropes, snorkelling, orienteering and mountain bike rides, are some of the activities in which your child may be participating. These activities are designed to provide children with elements of challenge in a very safe environment. For instance, rock climbing is much safer than most sporting activities, providing that all standard safety procedures are followed.

These activities are conducted in accordance with the NT Department of Education guidelines for outdoor education and safety procedures as set out in the BOEC Procedures Manual for Adventure Activities. Equipment is regularly checked and maintained. For each activity children are provided with a thorough description of safety procedures. No horseplay is tolerated and any student not complying with the specified safety procedures will be withdrawn from the class. If you wish further information regarding any of the adventure activities chosen for your child’s camp, please ring the school. You may wish to make an inspection of the BOEC’s facilities or attend the camp.

Mountain bike riding It is assumed that students participating in mountain bike riding already know how to ride a bicycle. BOEC provides bicycle helmets however, should a student wish to bring their own they are welcome to, it does make the fitting procedure more efficient. Students in lower grades i.e. 1-4 may have difficulty riding a bicycle due to the size of our bikes although we do have some smaller frames available. A tricycle and tandem is available for students with special needs. Please will you indicate if you require the tricycle or tandem six weeks in advance of your camp on the Confirmation Form. We have two mountain bike courses

Fire Trail (40min – 5km) o This track follows the fire break around the township of Batchelor. Around 50% of

the ride is shaded. This is a good introductory ride on relatively flat gravel/bitumen roads; and

Warpath (50min – 7km) o This is a longer track with less shade, taking riders past Batchelor Airstrip to an anti-

aircraft site where the remains of a B17 Flying Fortress can be viewed. This ride is for the historically minded and has a number of bumpy and loose gravel sections.


High and low ropes BOEC offers a combination of high and low ropes courses. Students are fitted with safety harnesses and are instructed to have it checked by one of the instructors. Safety harnesses are checked again before commencing their activity. There are two ropes courses:

Low ropes course o Is a series of rope and pine log obstacles. Students attempt to negotiate the course

without touching the ground. Balance and perseverance are important. Spotters are essential to ensure student safety.

High ropes course o Students climb a rigid aluminium ladder in a 7 metre tower, instructors connect them

to the safety line and they cross the 50 metre long Burmese Bridge to a second tower. Instructors now attach students to the flying fox for a rapid descent.

Rock climbing Students are fitted with safety harnesses and are instructed to have it checked by one of the instructors. Safety harnesses are checked again before commencing their activity. The tower currently has four climbs. The two easiest climbs go up a straight face and the other two have a 45o overhang. Students wishing to challenge themselves are encouraged to attempt the overhang. Archery

Introduction to and basic skills development in the sport of Archery. BOEC uses recurve bows and small junior compound bows. Instructors will start off by informing students of the strict safety procedures that are to be adhered to at all times. It is often rewarding to have the student do a second archery session.


Orienteering BOEC offers two orienteering courses as part of the normal activities program. The two normal courses are:

Town orienteering o An exercise involving map reading skills

around the township of Batchelor; o Town orienteering ‘plus’ involves taking a

bearing, using a compass and answering questions, suitable for Grade 7+

Campground orienteering o This course does not involve compasses. It is suitable for Grades 3-5 and can be

done as an activity. Snorkelling

Students learn the skills of snorkelling in the Batchelor swimming pool. Skills include correct fitting of equipment, correct finning technique, blast clearing, displacement clearing and equalization for deeper dives. Teachers are reminded that schools are required to have all student band information available prior to attending camp.

Please refer to Litchfield National Park – snorkelling and short walks for more information about snorkelling in the natural environment. Canoeing and Kayaking We recommend combining these to activities and if we have a third group, we can also include camp cooking (damper).

Canoeing o Introduction to the skills of effective canoeing.

May include getting in and out of the canoe, forward/reverse strokes, emergency stop, boat trim, rafting up, forward/reverse sweeps, draw strokes and capsize drill.

Kayaking o Introduction to the skills of effective kayaking, capsize drill, forward/reverse strokes,

balancing and rafting up.


Camp cooking (Damper) Damper making can be arranged as an activity based at either BOEC (fire pit) or a third rotational activity at the Rum Jungle Lake (canoeing/kayaking). Dampers are prepared by the students in pairs using a basic damper recipe. Golden syrup finishes the damper off beautifully. Ingredients are provided by BOEC. Bird watching Bird watching is a relatively new, yet exciting activity. Students will be shown how to identify birds using binoculars and a field guide. Students will be introduced to a variety of common birds generally seen around the town of Batchelor. Team building Team building activities are suitable for all middle primary aged students through to adults. The emphasis is working together as a team, being creative and problem solving. A number of tasks have been put together to get students to communicate effectively with each, identify strengths and weaknesses and work cohesively.


Additional Activities

Apart from the set activities included in your camp fee, BOEC also offers some additional onsite and offsite activities. Some incur additional costs and others are free of charge Litchfield National Park – snorkelling and short walks Excursions to Litchfield National Park can be arranged. Generally they are a full day activity departing at 8:30am and returning around 2:30pm. You will need to take morning tea and lunch out with you. Students can observe conservation of flora and fauna, study tropical woodland plants and snorkel in a natural environment. A stop is often made at the magnetic termite mounds where information about these unique insects is available. Snorkelling can be undertaken at Florence Falls or Wangi falls, provided students have undertaken a pool snorkelling session prior to the trip. Life jackets are worn at all times for a high level of safety. A variation to this trip can be a number of short walks prior to snorkelling. Short walk options are:

Tolmer falls (15min or 30min) o A short walk down a concrete path to a viewing platform or a slightly longer diversion

down a track and along the creek ridge to the viewing platform.

Florence falls (30min) o Walk through open woodland and permanent spring monsoon forest. This circuit

walk goes from the car park, down a stairway to Florence Falls plunge pool then the track winds its way around the creek and back up to the car park.

Wangi falls (45-60min) o A walk from the bottom of Wangi falls along a board walk system to a bird’s eye

viewing area of the permanent spring monsoon forest. The walk continues to the top of Wangi falls and down the other side.

There is no additional cost for this excursion, it is included in your camp fee, however should you require transport to and from the Park, BOEC has two 20 seater Coaster buses available. Cost per round trip is $125 (Incl. of GST) per bus. If you are thinking of one of these options, please discuss with the BOEC staff at least 6 weeks in advance of your camp to allow for activity planning. Litchfield National Park – Longer Bushwalking BOEC also offers longer walk options in Litchfield National Park; even overnight bushwalking although overnight is usually limited to Term 2 and 3 only. An enthusiastic teacher is a definite requirement for this activity. BOEC can provide all the necessary equipment for groups to undertake overnight walks such as backpacks, cookers, water bottles, gaiters, mosquito nets, and maps. We also have a GPS. Students will need to bring along their own food and sleeping gear.


Bushwalking Options are:

Tolmer falls to Wangi falls (3 Hours) o This walk is for the more adventurous, it involves navigation through bushland and

the ability to follow trail signs. Students need to know how to walk on a bearing and would suit small groups looking to test their navigation skills. Backpacks, gaiters, maps and compasses are available for this walk. Students will need to take a snack and plenty of water on this walk.

Sections of the Table Top circuit (overnight) o This walk can be tailored to group ability and requirements. There are a number of

overnight camping sites on this circuit which can be used depending on distance to be walked. It is bushwalking and terrain can become rocky and steep at times. It is recommended that students have an appropriate level of fitness to complete the walk.

Longer walks e.g. Katherine to Edith falls (5 Days) or Kakadu for small groups can be undertaken however, arrangements with BOEC need to be made well in advance. These walks will incur additional cost. Trampoline BOEC has two trampolines on site available for school groups to use upon request. One teacher must be in attendance at all times while trampolines are in use, BOEC staff are not available to supervise. Teachers attending camp should familiarise themselves with Departmental guidelines about duty of care when supervising students on the trampoline. Suggested guidelines include:

Trampoline should only be used under the supervision of a teacher conversant with the correct safety procedures;

Always ensure that spotters are at all sides of the trampoline to guide a wayward performer back towards the centre of the mat whilst airborne;

Never jump from the mat on to the ground, climb down over the frame;

Only one person at a time on the trampoline; and

Socks or bare feet are suitable footwear. No jewellery should be worn, loose articles removed from pockets and preferably long hair tied back.

Batchelor Swimming Pool Entry to the pool for snorkelling and swimming activities undertaken by BOEC staff is incorporated in the camp fee. These activities generally take place prior to 3:00pm each day. Should you wish to take a group of students for a swim after 3:00pm, the group rate is $1 per student. If a BOEC staff member is not available to supervise, at least one supervising adult must have a Bronze Medallion. The Batchelor Swimming Pool is closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It may be possible to hire the pool at an hourly rate, although this needs to be arranged through Coomalie Community Government Council. Phone No is (08) 8976 0058. Schools will need to book at least one week in advance. At least one supervising adult must have a Bronze Medallion.


Health and Safety

Fire In the event of fire all students and personal on camp must leave what they are doing, evacuate and rally together at the emergency assembly point, head count completed and await further instruction. There are Emergency Evacuation sheets in all rooms and Emergency Evacuation Procedure booklets in Block 0 and the dinning block. The assembly point is on the boundary fence at the end of the concrete pedestrian walkway between blocks 3 and 4. It is sign posted and all students and personal should acquaint themselves with this point. Upon arrival you will be shown where the Emergency Evacuation Procedure booklet is kept. In the event of a fire anywhere in the vicinity of the town of Batchelor, the town alarm will sound (old air-raid siren). During the day and active program time, BOEC staff with gather the students and personal in a group, head count completed and BOEC staff will ascertain the vicinity and severity of the fire and provide further instructions. Should the alarm sound during the night, students are to stand outside their bedroom doors with their buddy and await further instructions from their teachers. Teachers and supervising staff should acquaint themselves with the location of all alarms, fire extinguishers and fire hoses. Students may not have matches, lighters, candles or cigarettes on themselves or in their rooms. Medical Comprehensive first aid kits are available on site although it is recommended that all groups bring their first aid kits as well. It is also recommended that schools take out their own medical emergency insurance and ambulance cover. We recommend that at least one vehicle be on standby. BOEC does have one Government owned vehicle that can be made available for a medical emergency. As a health precaution, students are advised not to bring aerosol cans e.g. deodorant and propellant. As a precaution against choking, no chewing gum is allowed at BOEC. Teachers and supervising staff are to make sure that they are aware of all student current medical status, especially students requiring specific attention or treatment (e.g. asthma, allergies and medication being taken). We recommend that students with known Asthma conditions carry their own medication at all times. For all medical emergencies call 000. Batchelor Health Clinic (8976 0011) is located opposite the town oval on Pinaroo Crescent. Nursing staff is available during limited office hours but emergency care is available at any time by calling the above number or 000. A teacher or supervising staff must accompany a student at all times.


Sunburn and Dehydration Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap and Slurp guidelines. We conduct our activities outdoors and more often than not it is very hot and sunny. Please follow the above guidelines – sunscreen and remain hydrated at all times! General Some of the activities are of an endurance nature and do require some strength and agility. Activities may be conducted in remote and rugged locations and in environments subject to severe weather and other natural hazards such as snakes, spiders etc. In the event of injury or illness, access to emergency services and mobile coverage may be limited or not available for limited periods of time. This may result in delays in injured or sick group members accessing more definitive care. Students are to be advised that smoking, alcohol and non-prescribed drugs are strictly prohibited at the BOEC. The only landline available at the BOEC is located in Block 0 and can be used upon request. The nearest public telephone is located outside Batchelor General Store/Post Office 150m from the camp. Please keep rooms and Dining Hall block locked when away from site. We do not recommend bringing valuable items although should you have such an item, it is your responsibility to keep it locked away and safe. Please lock the Dining Hall at night. If theft occurs or you notice a trespasser on site, please notify either BOEC staff or Batchelor Police (8976 0015) We recommend that students do not bring valuable items. BOEC will not be held responsible for loss or damage to any item or goods brought in to camp by visiting students, teachers or adult helpers.


Information for Children Students are required to:

Listen and show respect to all BOEC staff;

Use appropriate language (not to swear);

Follow all safety instructions;

Wear appropriate clothing and footwear as required;

Be Aware o Behind the Archery mound is out of bounds; o Vandalism will not be tolerated; o Trampoline only to be used with teacher or adult supervision; o Walk everywhere, don’t run

Care o Care about the environment, camp area, dining hall, rooms and equipment; o Keep the camp site area clean; o Do not play with or make holes in the flyscreens;

Respect o Encourage your friends; o Listen when others are talking; o Respect those around you; o Display good manners;

Bring with you o Common-sense; o A sense of humour; o A positive attitude; o A sense of adventure; o Determination; o Patience and understanding.

Handbook - BOEC · With regards to water activities, schools are required to have all student band...

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