SACRED HEART COLLEGE Gr 10 Outdoor Education White Water Rafting & Caving Trip 2 Cross Street, New town Tasmania 7008 Email: admin@shc.tas.edu.au Website: www.shc.tas.edu.au Telephone (03) 6279 4090 Monday, 23 October 2017 Dear Students & Parents/Guardians, The Outdoor & Environmental Studies Grade 10 class will undertake their next overnight field trip over Friday 10 th, Saturday 11 th, Sunday 12 th and Monday 13 th of November 2017. We will be meeting at school at 8.40am on Friday the 10 th of November. The trip will involve 2 days White Water Rafting on the Mersey River under Lake Premenganna and a caving/abseiling experience at Honeycomb cave near Mole Creek on the morning of Monday 13 th November, before we return home. The purpose of the overnight camp is to continue the student s development in outdoor adventure activities, to develop rafting skills and to work on teamwork and leadership skills. The students will be supervised by Matt Conolan, Outdoor & Environmental Studies Teacher, and two experienced outdoor education instructors. These staff members will be with the students at all times and an excellent level of respect and behaviour is expected from all students. If a student behaves in any way that does not meet these standards and puts themselves or other group members at risk then the student will be required to be picked up by their parent/guardian and returned home at their own expense. I m sure however that this will not be an issue and we all look forward to an exciting and rewarding experience. Departure & Return Times: Students will need to come to school on Friday the 10 th of November packed with everything they will need for the weekend trip. We will return from the trip at approximately 6:30pm on Monday the 13 th of November. If our return time is delayed, or we expect to return at an earlier time, students will be able to contact their parents/guardians to let them know. Gear: A suggested gear list is attached as a guide to the equipment that is required. This list also provides a list of the gear the school will provide for the trip. Students must talk to their teacher at least a week in advance if they need to borrow or hire any other equipment that the school does not provide. If you have any questions regarding equipment please feel free to contact me at any time. Meals: Students will need to provide their own food for the 4 day camp. We will be stopping in Campbelltown for Lunch on the way up on Friday students will need to bring some money to buy lunch. The accommodation we are staying at has a simple kitchen with a stove and a fridge. Students can bring food to cook on a stove top but we ask that students please do not bring large eskis as they take up too much room in transit.
Risk Management: The nature of overnight white water rafting and caving takes us away from immediate emergency care however all staff attending the trip are trained in wilderness first aid and we will be taking satellite phones to use in the case of an emergency. There is also a phone at the accommodation for use in emergencies. This excursion is classified as Category C Overnight and as a result requires specific consent from parents/guardians to confirm each student may participate. As this excursion involves aquatic activities we also require specific consent before students may participate in swimming activities. Please complete the relevant section on the Permission Form. A thorough risk management protocol has been developed for this trip and may be viewed by parents/guardians upon request. Please complete the permission slip below and return it to Mr Conolan by Monday the 30 th of October. It is important that these forms are not returned late as if I do not have the permission slips the students will not be able to attend the journey. The medical form kept on the school database will be used for this camp, however if there are any new medical situations that I should be aware of can you please enter them in the space below. Please ensure that your child packs any necessary medication and informs Mr Conolan where it is packed in the case of urgent use. Please feel free to contact me at any time on the email below should you have any questions or concerns about the multiday rafting/caving trip. We look forward to an exciting trip. Please find attached: Permission slip Daily Itinerary Clothing & equipment list Yours sincerely Mr Mathew Conolan Outdoor & Environmental Studies Teacher & Outdoor Education Co-ordinator matt.conolan@shc.tas.edu.au
Day 1 Gr 10 Outdoor Education White Water Rafting & Caving Trip DATES: 10 th 11 th 12 th 13 th of November 2017 LOCATION: Mersey River slalom course & Honeycomb cave Mole Creek STAFF: Matt Conolan, and Outdoor Instructors: Dan Hall and Sally Prescott. 8:40am Meet at the Outdoor Education store. 8:40 9:30 Pack gear 9:30 Depart SHC 12pm Lunch in Campbelltown 12 2pm Drive Deloraine to Arm River education camp on the Mersey River 2 3pm Set up camp 3-5 First raft run down the river 6-9 Dinner & Games 10pm Bed lights out Day 1 8:00am Out of Bed. 8:30am Breakfast & pack up camp 9:30 9:45 Rafting Prep & briefing 9:45 10:30 Pump rafts & Safety Brief 10:30 12:30 1 st run down river 12:30 1:00 Lunch 1 2pm 2 nd run down river 2 5pm 3 rd run down river if time 5 6:30 Pack up and return to accommodation 6:30 8pm Dinner 9:30pm Bed lights out 10pm Day 3 8:00am Wake up 8:30am Breakfast 9:30 9:45 Rafting Prep & briefing 9:45 10:30 Safety brief 10:30 12:30 1 st run down river 12:30 1:00 Lunch 1 5pm 2 nd run down river 5 6:30 Pack up & return to accommodation 6:30 8pm Dinner 9:30pm Bed lights out 10pm Day 4 7:00am Out of Bed. 7:30am Breakfast & pack up camp 8:30 9:30 Drive to Honeycomb Cave 9:30 10 Gear up and Safety Brief 10:00 11:30 Abseil into cave 11:30 1:30 Caving 1:30 2:30 Picnic lunch 2:30 6:30 Drive to Hobart 6:30pm Students dismissed.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING LISTS REMEMBER COLD CLAMMY COTTON CAN T COME CAMPING or Kayaking!! You will need all your food for the 4 days sharing with one or two other students. And LIGHTWEIGHT snacks for 4 days!! QUANTITY ITEM Rafting Specific equipment 1 set Polypropylene Thermal Underwear (top & legs) 3 pairs Thick Woollen Socks - to keep feet warm while wet 1 Polar fleece or woollen jumper 2 2 pairs of shoes (one to get wet while in raft) 1 Change of warm dry clothes - to put on at the end of each day. 3 Large plastic bag to put wet clothes in. Caving Specific equipment 1 pair Old good quality shoes that can get muddy. 1 pair Over-alls to protect clothing from getting very muddy (optional) 1 Good quality very bright Head torch - Compulsory 1 Old warm clothes polar fleece jumper and Thermals General Camping equipment 1 Sports bag to carry clothes & equipment. 1 Waterproof Jacket - Goretex or similar fabric needs to be of good quality not just a light spray jacket. 1 Lightwieght waterproof overpants. 5 Large thick plastic bags for waterproofing clothing and equipment 2 Pairs of lightweight shoes one to get wet in the raft and one to wear at camp 1 Sleeping bag It will be cold so a down sleeping bag rated at around 0 degrees. 1 Mug, Bowl (preferably plastic) 1 Knife, Fork, Spoon Pocket knife or similar for chopping food for cooking 2 1 ltr Water bottle (screw top lid) you need the capacity to carry at least 2 ltrs of water 1 Reliable light weight head torch and spare batteries 1 Toilet paper (bring ½ a roll to safe space and water proof it) 2 Chux (type) cleaner & steel wool scourer 1 Tea towel 1 Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, biodegradable soap) 1 Sunglasses 1 Sunscreen (essential) 1 High energy snacks 1 Personal First Aid Kit 2 Wool or polorfleece jumpers 1 Thin woolor polorfleece jumper or skivvy 2 Lightwieght warm Long sleeved shirt 2 Board shorts &/or swimmers for swimming 1 or 2 T-shirts 2 pair Polyproperlene Thermal underwear Top and bottom ESSENTIAL DO NOT BRING COTTON. To keep dry for the night. 1 pair Synthetic Track pants or warm pants (NO DENIM or similar) 3 pair Wool socks ESSENTIAL 1 pair Thick gloves 1 Beanie ESSENTIAL 1 Sunhat (preferably full round brim) (essential) 1 Towel 1 Day Pack to carry day trip gear in. The following items will be supplied by the COLLEGE: QUANTITY ITEM 1 Dry Bags 2 person Tent 1 Sleeping mat 1 Stove and fuel (to share in groups of 2-3)
Outdoor & Environmental Studies Grade 10 White Water Rafting & Caving Trip In respect of the Year 10 Outdoor & Environmental Studies 4 day expedition to the White Water Rafting & Caving Camp from Friday 10th to Monday 13 th of November 2017, I, (Name of Parent / Guardian) as the parent / guardian of (Name of Student) give my: 1. Permission for my child named above to attend the excursion, 2. Consent for my child to travel on or in any form of public transport where such transport is deemed by the College to be necessary or desirable for the safe conduct of the excursion, 3. Consent for my child to participate in all activities and functions arranged as part of this excursion, 4. Consent for the College, by its servants or agents to seek such medical or dental advice on behalf of my child as seen fit in the event of accident or illness, and if, in the opinion of an attending medical or dental practitioner or medical officer ( health practitioner ) my child requires medical or dental attention or treatment (including but not limited to the administration of anaesthetic, blood transfusion or the performance of any surgical operation), to that health practitioner giving such attention or treatment provided that reasonable efforts are made to inform me of any serious injury or illness, 5. Certification that the consent which I have given in paragraph 4 is valid at all times while my child is in the custody of the College while attending or participating in the excursion, 6. Certification that I understand that the College will take reasonable care in the event of my child suffering accident or illness but that it will not be responsible for the costs of any medical or dental attention or treatment administered to my child in such event nor will it be directly responsible for any act or omission of any health practitioner attending or treating my child, 7. Agreement that the College is not liable if any of my child s possessions or property is damaged, lost or stolen during this excursion, 8. Agreement for my child to undertake all activities and use all equipment and materials detailed, being aware of the hazards and risks that may be involved including but not limited to slips, trips, stumbles, falls, cuts, abrasions, lacerations, sprains, strains, fractures, burns, traffic and vehicular accidents, insect bites etc. 9. Certification that it is my responsibility to provide updated medical information in writing to the College Office in addition to any information provided below. Additional Medical Information: The College collects medical and health information about students as part of the annual enrolment / re-enrolment process and at other times as required. Please provide details of any new or updated medical or health information for your child below and also provide this information in writing to the College Office. Additional / Updated Medical Information:
Consent to take part in swimming / aquatic activities on camp Please indicate your child s ability level for swimming: Swimming Ability: (please tick one only as it applies to your son/daughter) Non-Swimmer/Weak Swimmer Intermediate Advanced/Confident - high level of supervision required - Medium level of supervision required - Low level of supervision I give permission for my son/daughter to participate in all aquatic activities on camp Confirmation and commitment to attending the camp: A considerable amount of logistical planning and preparation as well as a considerable budget goes into offering the OES course and associated activities. All activities are a compulsory part of the course, by signing the form below both students and parents are committing to the student attending the camp. Student Name: Student Signature: Parent Name: Signature: Contact No: Email: Please Note: It is a legal requirement that the parent permission slip is signed by the parent/guardian before the student can participate in the field trip.