OES Camp

Unit 2 and Unit 4 OES Mount Buller Camps

In August, our VCE Outdoor and Environmental Studies (OES) class headed to Mt Buller for three days of skiing, snow and attempting Olympic-level moves, with none of the results but plenty of the enthusiasm.

We took ski lessons with Mt Buller Ski School, discovering that skiing looks far easier from the sidelines. From stopping and turning to maintaining the famous "pizza" shape, there were plenty of questionable moments, and avoiding a domino effect of falls was a challenge in itself. There were falls, a few minor injuries and reminders that falling was part of the process. To top it all off, Mr McGrath made sure we were impossible to miss in the infamous fluorescent green vests, which we had to convince ourselves were a good fashion choice!

We didn't get any bluebird days, but we did get snowfall, freezing temperatures and strong winds. Despite the cold, the mountain looked like something out of a movie, making the bruises worth it. We completed our OES logbooks and learned about managing Mt Buller's alpine environment, including climate change, habitat fragmentation and conserving the Mountain Pygmy-possum.

We also shared it with new members of our Outdoor Ed family. After our first camp in autumn, Mt Buller gave us another chance to make memories, from skiing to movie night, with hot chocolates and Mr McGrath's projector struggles. Two camps, countless falls and no bluebird days later, both have been equally memorable. Despite the cold and the odd loss of skis and dignity, Mt Buller was worth it.

Julienne
Year 11 VCE OES student