Belgian Gardens State School offers a range of student camps and excursions that align with the school's curriculum, support student leadership development and assist with Junior Secondary Transitions.
Camps:
Year 5 Camp – Kinchant Dam Leadership and Teambuilding Camp
Kinchant Dam sits along Kinchant Dam near MacKay. The dam offers many unique activities and challenges that encourages students to take risks in a safe and supported environment. Teachers and camp staff coordinate to jointly offer students diverse opportunities to also enhance their leadership skills.
The camp also acts as a pre-requisite when applying for leadership roles at BGSS. Students are evaluated against a leadership rubric by teachers from BGSS and then collated during the leadership selection process later in the Term.
A sample of the camp itinerary is below:
- Bouldering
- Team Challenges
- High Ropes
- Biscuiting
- Raft building
Year 6 Camp – Paluma Environmental Camp
The Paluma Environmental Camp based along the Paluma Dam immerses students in the environment where activities are centred around envionrmental sustainability and contextualised challenges. The program aligns beautifully with our school's curriculum and teachers gather evidence on the scheduled activities to inform student judgements.
A sample of the camp itinerary is below:
Observing Birds/ Using Binoculars - Learn how to use binoculars
- Observe birds in grounds and on rainforest edge
- Record results in booklets
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Exploring Tropical Rainforest Walk to Witts Lookout. Observe natural features of this special place. Make connections with your head, heart and hand. |
Build a Shelter You are a tin miner and have just discovered alluvial tin in one of your test pits. You now need to build a shelter, as you will be mining this spot for several months. It needs to keep you warm and dry. |
Magic Spot Experience the rainforest in a unique way- in your own quiet personal spot. Listen with your heart and make connections with the Paluma Rainforest. |
Catching Macroinvertebrates Catch macro invertebrates at Wet Ck. Complete scientific sketches and identify specimens caught. |
Excursions:
Throughout the year students in various year levels throughout the school will go on excursions to support the contextualised connected curriculum and enhance Junior/Secondary Transitions.
A sample of excursions are listed below:
Rowes Bay Rangers:
Students design and construct a tool that can pick up rubbish on the Rowes Bay beach area.
Reef HQ Turtle Hospital:
Students visit the local turtle hospital at Reef HQ to gain background knowledge on turtles before they begin writing their information text in English.
Townsville State High School Transitions:
Throughout the year students in Years 5 and 6 will take part in transition activities with our feeder High School. Some activities include STEM Days, Sports Days and student for a day.
Jezzine Barracks:
Townsville has a rich history dating back to World War 1 and before. Jazzine Barracks gives our students a great account of how Townsville contributed in safe guarding our country. The visit helps build student knowledge when undertaking History and Social Science Units.
The Strand:
Students visit the strand and learn about water and its journey from the 'Rainforest to the Reef'. Helping students understand how fresh water run-off and associated pollutants and micro-plastics can affect our Great Barrier Reef.
Magnetic Island:
Being in such close proximity to Magnetic Island enables students to investigate the natural habitats of marine and island wildlife. Students do the Fort Walk and also, learn about the history behind some of the structure that still remain on the Island.
Incursions:
BGSS also hosts many groups at the school that provide our school witch support our curriculum and cultural heritage.
A sample of school incursions are listed below:
Hands on Wildlife:
Ranger Dan visits the school annually from the Billabong Sanctuary bringing various native species with him. Students get a chance to interact with a host of animals and then learn about their characteristics in class.
Wulgurukaba Walkabouts:
As part of our NAIDOC week activities we host the Wulgurukaba Walkabouts who put on a captivating performance for our school and community. They also guide our Year 2 students in dancing which helps support the Arts curriculum.
Dance North:
BGSS contracts local dancers from Dance North to instruct our students in Prep, Year 2, Year 4, and Year 6 and culminates in an end of year performance at the Townsville Civic Theatre.
Drill Hall:
Local artists from the Drill Hall guide our students in creating unique pieces of art which are displayed during our Gully Ephemera evening, where our parents and community are invited to view these pieces placed throughout our gully.