The Year 9 Kakadu Program is an immersive
outdoor learning experience for students
Cultural immersion and outdoor education are core to a Caulfield Grammar education. Students ‘learn by doing’ through authentic real-world learning experiences, connection and collaboration – immersing in diverse cultures to develop skills to navigate our rapidly changing world, whether internationally or domestically.
“There is more to us than we know, if we could be made to see it; perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less.”
Kurt Hahn, German Outdoor Adventure Educator
Sally Kelly
head of Kakadu Program
Our Learning Approach
Cultural Immersion
Caulfield Grammar School’s Year 9 Kakadu Program provides students with a variety of environments and settings to take responsibility for their own learning and self-management. Students have a unique opportunity to experience contrasts – between ancient and modern approaches to land usage, ownership, governance and restoration – and explore the stories, culture, histories and peoples within a range of communities in the Northern Territory.
Learning, Reflection and Inspiration
Each student sets in motion a process of learning, reflection and inspiration – about themselves and others. This process continues long after they return to familiar ground, perhaps even for a lifetime, and has five key phases:
- Preparation & Packing
- Community & Connection
- Outdoor Education & Navigation
- Discovery & Expedition
- Sharing & Reflection
Cultural Engagement
Students are immersed in local communities, learning first-hand about living in a remote community and learning from the local people. Cultural exchanges include learning about Indigenous languages, arts and crafts, and ways of living and surviving on country.
Community & Collaboration
Students collaborate with a variety of people, both staff and students, in a range of different groups. This collaboration develops camaraderie, connection and a strong sense of community.
Student-driven Inquiry
Students take ownership to engage with content and concepts through an inquiry lens. Students bring their own personal interests and inquiries to the learning as they develop a deeper understanding of life in Australia’s ‘Top End’ including Indigenous heritage, culture, environment, history and language.
Teamwork & Leadership
Students are challenged and extended to develop their leadership capacity and communication skills in an experiential environment. Students explore what it means to be a leader in the context of small teams. They develop strategies and skills for communicating and working in a team effectively and hold different leadership roles and responsibilities.
Service Learning
Caulfield Grammar School partners with several groups based in Jabiru and surrounds, to learn with and from each other. Our partnerships are two-way, and each student plays a role in building relationships within the communities visited.
Reflection
Reflection is a powerful learning tool that acts as a vehicle for students to learn more about themselves and the world around them. Daily opportunities for reflection are provided through a personal journal, learning activities, discussion, feedback and peer or self-evaluations.
Action
Grounded in their new learning experiences, Caulfield Grammar School students are provoked to take meaningful action in their own worlds. Action from learning can include changing personal habits or mindset, challenging misconceptions, initiating change in local communities or sharing learning beyond their immediate school environment. Students find personal meaning from their learning experiences and transfer this into their own lives.
