We provide great opportunities for students, in and outside of the classroom. Camps are an integral part of making great memories, forging new friendships and learning new skills – all great life lessons.
Camps are a staple part of our academic year for students from Year 2 to Year 10.
Our Senior Students also go on Retreats and reflections in their final years, which build connections on a deeper level and help to support them through their last two years of schooling.
These off-Campus adventures are part of the fabric of College life and help build the strong and connected community that Mercedes is known for:
In Year 2, our students spend a night amongst the sights and sounds of the Adelaide Zoo. Students explore diverse animal habitats, and go on a guided night walk which introduces them to nocturnal animal behaviours.
It’s a great introduction to an overnight camping experience with their peers and prepares them for future camps away from home.
In Year 3, students head further afield for a one-night camp experience at Narnu Farm on Hindmarsh Island. A location ideal for outdoor learning, students participate in hands on animal interactions and farm routines, building confidence and curiosity.
By Year 4, our students are pushed to challenge their comfort zones, spending a night at Adventure Outlook, El Shaddai.
Qualified instructors lead students through a range of outdoor challenges, helping them uncover new strengths whilst fostering teamwork, confidence, and a sense of personal achievement.
In their final year of Junior School, our Year 5 students spend two nights in Adare, Victor Harbor, participating in adventure programmes designed to encourage problem-solving, creativity and growth through hands-on, experiential learning.
When our students enter the Middle School, their first camp is a week-long journey to Canberra, where they explore key landmarks like Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, Australian Institute of Sport, and Questacon, participating in hands-on learning about history, politics, leadership, and science.
Year 7 students prepare for their three-day, two-night camp in Woodhouse by undertaking mountain bike training and erecting tents in our gardens. After arrival, they put these skills to work, riding and bushwalking to nearby Mount George whilst participating in environmental studies, navigation and initiative tasks.
In Year 8 our students head south to the Murraylands for a three-day camp, growing their understanding of water confidence and safety through a range of aquatic activities on the Murray River. In addition to challenging themselves with new experiences, students learn more about the environmental and human impacts on the health of the river.
Students take on a leadership role for Year 9 camp, planning and preparing for a four-day, self-managed hiking trip through the Flinders Ranges. Guided by their teachers, students take responsibility for the content and organisation of their backpacks, cooking equipment, food rationing, and making camp each night. It’s a mentally, socially, and physically challenging experience that gives them a greater sense of self-awareness and builds incredible bonds across the cohort.
Our Year 10 students have a choice of camp, electing their preferred activity from fishing, surfing, kayaking, mountain biking, or rock climbing. All designed to enhance their outdoor education skills, many students choose to participate in something they’ve never tried before, uncovering new talents and passions with friends.
For our Year 11 and Year 12 students, camp experiences are replaced by more reflective activities aimed at strengthening connections, preparing for rigorous final studies, and recalibrating their priorities for the year.
With a focus on vulnerability, trust, and support, Retreats are often credited for the closeness of our students’ final years together at the College.
Our Outdoor Education students are challenged with further camping opportunities, such as bushwalking, surfing, kayaking, and snorkelling, where they conduct practical learning and data collection that support their classroom studies.
Optional Year 9 programmes, Being You and Break Free, also each culminate with a camp experience that showcases the resilience, courage, and connections formed during the term.
As part of our faith education, students from Year 6 to Year 10 receive a dedicated day during the academic year to step away from their regular studies and spend time reflecting on spirituality, service, building relationships, and personal wellness.
The themes and activities on these days increase in solemnity and depth of conversation as our students mature, and give them time that ultimately refreshes their perspectives and sees them return to their classrooms with renewed energy and commitment.
