Nothing prepares students for the challenges of real-life like the real world. Our Experiential Learning approach enhances students' physical and emotional strengths so they’re ready for life — wherever it takes them.
Picture students in rural Vietnam, working side by side to construct houses for communities in need. Their hands building humble homes, their hearts filled with purpose.
Experiential Learning at HVGS offers captivating, hands-on experiences that enrich students’ understanding of their community and the world around them, equipping them with invaluable skills that reach far beyond the classroom. Through active exploration, they don’t just learn—they evolve into curious, compassionate changemakers, ready to make a positive impact on the world.
Experiential Learning is woven throughout our diverse academic pathways and co-curricular programs, encompassing:
- The Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) program
- Overseas Excursions
- The HVGS Environment
- Excursions and Incursions
Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC)
The EOTC (Education Outside the Classroom) program encourages active lifestyles, civic engagement, and a deep appreciation for the environment through its four key pillars. Each pillar builds resilience, social responsibility, leadership skills, and a connection to the natural world. These pillars of endeavour include: Challenge, Service, Leadership and Connection.
Camps: Years 3 - 6
- For Years 3–4, the Great Aussie Bush Camp offers an exciting array of fun-filled activities designed to help students thrive in a unique social environment. With adventures like bushwalking, fencing, canoeing, and more, students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, building confidence and creating lasting memories.
- Students in Years 5 and 6 enjoy a combined camp at the scenic Point Wolstoncroft, where team-building, connection, collaboration, trust, and communication take centre stage. Through a range of activities, students develop confidence and resilience, leaving camp with strengthened relationships and valuable life skills.
Camp Wolstoncroft isn't just about having fun and spending time with friends, it's also about overcoming challenges and building camarderie - Ryan (Year 5)
- Students in Year 6 also head off to Canberra to explore the nation's Capital. This cultural and educational experience is a highlight for our students.
Camps: Years 7 - 9
- Students in Year 7 enjoy a camp experience on the banks of the Hunter River on the HVGS Rowing Complex site.
- Year 8 students spend time at PortStephens
- Outdoor education experiences steadily become more challenging in the senior years. The Year 9 Urban Challenge provides the ultimate ‘big wide world’ experience as small teams embark on a fast-paced unfolding adventure through Sydney and surrounds.
The Endeavour Program: Years 10 and 11
Students in Years 10 and 11 participate in the Endeavour Program. Students choose a trip from:
- Vietnam Community Building Project
- Thailand Marine Biology & Ecology Tour
- Fiji Sports and Education Tour
- Central Australia Cultural Tour
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Conservation Tour
- Jindabyne & Snowy Mountain Tour
Camps: Year 12
Year 12 students attend a special conference specifically designed to engage them in academic, pastoral, social and outdoor activities. The conference mentally prepares (and bonds) students for their last intensive year of school. It’s here that students better understand their shared responsibility to take care of themselves, and each other, during their final year of school.
Overseas Excursions
Our International Excursions deepen global learning, extending language and academic knowledge while honing cross-cultural skills. These impactful experiences shape students' worldviews and create lasting memories, reflecting the school's commitment to immersive, real-world education.
The HVGS Environment
The natural surroundings of the HVGS campus and its extensive facilities offer abundant opportunities for experiential learning.
With expansive gardens, wetlands, an agriculture plot, the HVGS Farm, and a rowing facility by the river, students regularly move beyond the classroom to engage in hands-on learning in the outdoors. These settings provide a rich environment for exploration, growth, and discovery.
Excursions and Incursions
Excursions and incursions offer valuable experiential learning opportunities closely tied to the curriculum. Whether through field trips or hosting external providers, these experiences are typically led by the teachers responsible for the relevant subject areas. They challenge students with authentic, real-world scenarios that deepen their knowledge and enhance their Learner Profiles and Attitudes to Learning. Each experience is enriched with reflection, driving both student growth and meaningful learning outcomes.