A sequence of transformative experiences intentionally designed to support girls in the process of becoming.
Explore, Serve, Journey at PLC Armidale weaves together the strands of Outdoor Education, Service Learning and Pastoral Care.
Fundamental to each program is the idea that each girl will leave slightly different to how they arrived: a shift in perspective, a new appreciation for others, a deeper sense of place or potentially a profound change in how they see themselves in the world. These Rite of Passage experiences assist girls in navigating the transition from young children to young women of character.
While our sequence of Explore Serve Journey programs spans Kindergarten to Year 12, peak experiences occur in the middle years of schooling.
This is a particularly challenging time for girls in terms of dealing with change, developing identity and navigating social relationships.
The following programs assist students to move through this turbulent stage with grit and grace:
Year 9 – 28 days – Every girl’s a boarder
Year 10 – 13 days – A Journey from the highest city to the highest mountain.
Year 11 – 6 days – Rock and Rope – ‘Hanging Out’ in the Blue Mountains
This 28 day program sees all students in Year 9 embark on a once in a lifetime adventure. With a total of 28 days away from home and 12 nights spent sleeping in tents, girls learn the skills required to journey through remote locations by bike, canoe and on foot.
A highlight and final challenge is in an overnight solo experience where students have the opportunity to reflect on their 28 day personal journey.
Girls find themselves removed from everyday normality and free from the distraction of technology. Such a significant shared experience offers the chance to make meaningful connections with others in their cohort. The memories made and stories told for years to come are what bonds a year group together.
This 13 day journey from Armidale to Mt Kosciusko sees Year 10 students explore both Sydney and Canberra. The program provides an opportunity for many of our students based in regional areas to explore our state and national Capitals while experiencing city based challenge and adventure.
Service features heavily with girls spending time volunteering at several Sydney based not for profit organisations working towards providing food and clothing to vulnerable communities.
The final days are based at Thredbo where students enjoy exploring the stunning alpine environment. Highlights include summiting Mt Kosciusko, mountain biking the Thredbo Valley Trail and riding the lifts and enduro trails within the Thredbo Mountain Bike Park.
This 6 day experience in the Blue Mountains provides an opportunity for Year 11 students to explore the dramatic sandstone cliffs and deep canyons unique to this world heritage area.
A carefully sequenced series of activities allows girls to become familiar with ropes and climbing hardware, while learning the skills required to keep themself safe at height.
Full day canyoning, abseiling and rock climbing adventures follow, with students able to choose an area to specialise in on the final day.
Study skills are incorporated into this program to ensure that Year 11 students are set up for success and have a clear plan for navigating their preliminary HSC year.
From Year 9 onwards students are encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. This award recognises commitment in a variety of areas including: skill development, physical activity and community service.
A highlight of the program for many girls are the adventurous journeys, which build in both difficulty and duration as participants move through the levels of Bronze, Silver and Gold.
The adventurous journeys provide opportunities for girls to undertake expeditions through New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, The Northern Territory and New Zealand.
For their bronze award girls complete their first overnight hike in Cathedral Rock National Park. They learn how to navigate, set up a tent, cook on a camp stove and fit everything they need for two days into a pack.
These skills are then consolidated with a 5 day 4 night expedition through Bald Rock and Girraween National Parks. The journey crosses the boarder between NSW and QLD, weaving through large granite outcrops and towering boulders.
The Three Peak Challenge involves summiting three mountains in three days. This epic adventure takes place in South East Queensland’s Scenic Rim known for it’s vast mountain ranges and spectacular natural beauty. An early morning start ensures a once in a lifetime sunrise.
A final expedition takes students further afield to explore the Blue Mountains and Gardens of Stone National Parks. Rugged sandstone cliff lines and gorges dominate the landscape as girls journey through this world heritage area.
Warrumbungle National Park is characterised by dramatic mountains and volcanic rock formations, creating the perfect playground for girls undertaking their Gold award to test their skills and endurance on a 4 day circuit exploring every corner of the park.
To celebrate how far they have come on their Duke of Edinburgh journey, girls head to New Zealand to complete an incredible final hike through Mount Aspiring National Park
Our school is driven by a desire to genuinely and transparently reflect our Christian foundations. Service learning is a key part which is designed to live out what we proclaim.
Service learning provides students with an opportunity to give their time and energy in service to others which helps us all to learn more about ourselves, the world and our role in it.
It enables them to think critically and creatively as they are presented with different tasks to do.
A key part of service learning is allowing reflection time and activities to help students process this experience, allowing students to share how they are feeling about the experiences and the relationships that are being built, to grow in their understanding of themselves and others and to evaluate the impact of the activities we are involved in.
This service trip allows students in Year 10 and 11 an opportunity to serve with two different organisations in Chiang Mai Thailand – Agape Home which is a home for children with or at risk from HIV/AIDS and McKean Centre which was previously a centre for people with leprosy but now supports older people in residential care from Thailand and beyond.
Students serve in practical ways through physical tasks eg. painting, gardening, cleaning and build relationships with the people and children in both of these organisations through shared experiences and activities.
Students also get to experience Thai culture through visiting local markets, participating in a cooking school, exploring local sites in Chiang Mai and enjoying delicious Thai meals.
This trip offers an opportunity to serve internationally with experiences that will stay with them long after they return to Australia
‘Many of the girls won’t fully process the experience until weeks, months, or even years later. It will only be when they reflect on these 28 days as their future self that they will be able to step back and truly appreciate the impact it had on who they became.’
Amanda feels most at home with a pack on her back, getting lost in remote gorges and exploring the granite outcrops that dominate the New England landscape.
With a degree in Outdoor Education and Masters in Social Ecology she is passionate about sharing her love of adventure and utilising the restorative nature of wild places to empower young women.
The Explore Serve Journey program is based on years of experience working in the field of transformative education as well as her own academic research.
Miss Jennifer Leahy is our College Chaplain and oversees the pastoral care of our students and our Student Representative Council.
She works with the Year 12 Spiritual Leadership team and plans our service learning opportunities.
Miss Leahy has been with our College for more than 15 years and was previously our Head of Boarding, so she understands the challenges and blessings of living in a community.
15-57 Crest Rd
PO Box 4420
Armidale NSW 2350 Australia
Entry via main gates off Duval Street
Phone: (+612) 6770 1700
Email: enquiries@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au
ABN 79 017 381 796
The Presbyterian Church (New South Wales)
Property Trust
CRICOS 02295G
