Outdoor Learning Cultivates Courage, Culture and Connection at SAC
Outdoor Learning Cultivates Courage, Culture and Connection at SAC
At St Aloysius College, the world beyond the classroom is more than just a change of scenery— the bustling Adelaide CBD is what Primary Coordinator, Ms Abby Matte, refers to as a “third teacher.”
“SAC is uniquely positioned to use the city to enhance learning outcomes, and we do so with intention and care,” says Ms Matte.
The Australian Curriculum highlights that outdoor learning contributes to the development of essential personal and social capabilities such as communication, resilience, self-confidence, leadership, teamwork, goal setting, personal autonomy, and initiative.
From daytime explorations in the Botanic Gardens, to travelling west for a bike riding safety course, or a night spent at Zoo Snooze, and camps at Narnu Farm on the picturesque Fleurieu Peninsula, students across SAC’s primary years engage with Outdoor Education in ways that are playful, personal and powerfully formative.
Year 3 students recently walked the living history of the Kaurna people, visiting sites of cultural significance. Transferring knowledge from the classroom into the outside world, and guided by cultural teachings of Uncle Major ‘Moogy’ Sumner, the Year 3s interpreted ancient symbols and reflected on Dreaming stories depicted in murals around the CBD. These experiences, though close to home, build the same empathy and wonder as a faraway excursion, inviting opportunities for reflection and promoting cultural awareness.
“I had lots of fun looking at all the different artwork, especially the Dreaming story we learnt about in class. It was cool to see the story in real life,” said Hershi.
“I enjoyed sitting in front of the Uncle Moogy mural and thinking about someone in my life who has taught me valuable lessons like him,” Abigail reflected.
At a secondary level, Outdoor Education is offered as a subject at Stage 1 and Stage 2. And, for over 10 years, SAC has proudly hosted the highest number of female participants in South Australia for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award—a testament to the College’s commitment to empowering students of all ages through adventure and challenge. From the lively heart of the city to quiet trails and waterways further afield, outdoor learning at SAC enables young people to grow in courage, compassion and curiosity.
Ms Rachel Grawich, Duke of Edinburgh Award Coordinator at SAC, explains that, “outdoor learning experiences build more than skills—they build character. These programs help students become more independent, resilient, and environmentally aware, offering growth that can’t always happen in a traditional classroom.”
Outdoor Education at SAC enables students to challenge themselves, to honour history and culture, and cultivates connection to place and to each other. Whether hiking through hills or walking through the Kaurna stories of the city, students are learning the most important lesson of all: that the world is their classroom, and they have a vital place within it.
Ms Maddie Kelly
Marketing & Communications Team
