The 2025 residential Explore Serve Journey program began with some beautiful warm coastal days combined with some wet and wild weather, which made for muddy mountain bike trails and lots of fun riding in the rain.

One week in and the threat of severe thunderstorms delayed the groups 10km hike in Cathedral Rocks National Park so they enjoyed caving at Blue Hole and a slack lining challenge until they were cleared to do the hike on Sunday - and it did not disappoint.

The day began with a spectacular sunrise on the overnight hike which was peppered with a little rain, a few storms and even some hail, but the girls were amazing and loved. it all.

Tamworth and Inverell Mountain Bike Parks provided a great playground to improve the girls skills during week two. They also spent a day hand sewing beautiful Christmas decorations to donate to Embrace Multicultural Mental Health -part of Mental Health Australia. Then it was time to dehydrate fruit and bolognese pasta ready for their 5 day hike.

To start Week three the cohort spent three days journeying down the Nymboida River. The deep pools were relaxing, the rapids exhilarating and the capsizes quite the adventure! Our girls loved learning to 'read the rive', navigating their way down drops and camping on the bank when it got dark.

The five-day self sufficient cross border hike was a wet one! But there were a few special blue sky moments to soak up the views. Our crazy socks came out on the last day and they were so nice to put on after wearing damp socks and boots for what seemed like eternity.

All our Year 9 girls participate in a 28-day residential program that sees them learn essential survival skills and go mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, camp solo, and participate in community service.

The Explore Serve Journey program is an intentionally designed sequence of experiences grounded in educational theory and research. It is a new initiative of the College to provide a peak experience to support and equip girls as they grow and transition from childhood to adulthood. 

Each of the three elements: Explore, Serve and Journey have been purposefully chosen. 

"Journeys, both in the physical and metaphorical sense, act as catalysts for personal development and transformation. 

"Metaphorical journeys are as essential as physical ones, as they challenge individuals to evolve and reevaluate their habits and perspectives. The concept of a "Rite of Passage" is a traditional means of aiding individuals in transitioning between life stages, a practice that has become increasingly scarce in modern Western culture.

"There are three distinct stages of a transformative experience: Separation, Transition, and Return. And the importance of allocating time for reflection and exploration during these stages cannot be underestimated.

"Such periods offer valuable growth opportunities. Slowing down is a means to form deeper connections with oneself and the environment and is a luxury in our fast-paced world.

"Having ample time permits individuals to make genuine choices and learn from unforeseen circumstances, even when they deviate from the planned path.  Authentic learning occurs when individuals engage in profound, unscripted experiences."

Ms Amanda Burney, has a Bachelor in Outdoor Education and a Master of Education (Social Ecology) and along with Miss Leahy, our School Chaplain, leads our Explore, Serve, Journey (ESJ) program that weaves together the strands of Outdoor Education Camps, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Service Learning and Pastoral Care from across our Pre-K to Year 12 all-girl campus. 

You can see the 2024 year 9 adventure HERE

You can see 2023 Year 9 adventure HERE