By Derek Schlennstedt
Year 10 students at Ranges TEC will be putting their outdoor skills to the test during a six-week leadership program called Wild Journey.
The program will see the students undertaking a variety of adventure activities including caving,white-water rafting, abseiling, rock-scrambling, river-sledding and hiking.
The program connects young people with nature and provides a catalyst for personal development. Yarra Ranges Mayor, Tony Stevenson, said outdoor adventure activities are designed for young people to look at their strengths and the strengths of others and develop coping strategies and life skills.
“There is a great body of evidence showing the benefits that a connection to nature has on positive mental health,” Cr Stevenson said.
“Wild Journey creates an incredible sense of achievement for the young people and by the end of it as they look back at how much they’ve progressed in their abilities and confidence.
“The program is an opportunity for young people to learn experientially in a safe and controlled outdoor environment where they get to push their comfort zones.
“Most of the activities are run within Yarra Ranges, taking advantage of the wealth of beautiful natural assets we have on our doorstep.”
EACH provides trained Wilderness Instructors who specialise in using nature-based adventure therapy to help young people improve their relationship with self, others and the environment.
The Yarra Ranges Council program, which has also been run with Healesville High School and Cire Community School, is run a partnership with EACH and funded by the Victorian Government’s Engage! program.
