Learning Outside of the Classroom
Experiential education is an integral part of the learning environment at The King David School. Our programs develop students who are confident decision makers, work well in teams, and can navigate new situations. They know how to step up and meet challenges. Opportunities to learn outside of the classroom are built in to our everyday at King David, with our Outdoor Education program, our Jewish Experiential Education program, Nitzan, Kinor David, and our vast array of co-curricular offerings, every student grows through the experiences we offer.
Outdoor Education
Outdoor education is an ideal complement to classroom learning, with a structured program to ensure that students learn valuable ‘life skills’. The King David School Outdoor Education program takes an adventure-based, holistic approach to education. The program extends students’ learning into the outdoors and uses scope and sequence to transition learning from one year to the next.
Students learn how to negotiate with others to achieve the best results, develop safe risk-taking strategies, work best as individuals and within teams and how to lead others in challenging situations. Students develop important skills that help shape their adult lives. Our program also educates our students about social and ecological sustainability.
Students from Years 3 to 11 participate in the Outdoor Education program. After Year 4, all camps are conducted at different locations.
Our Years 3 and 4 students spend two days in the bush (often the Dandenong Ranges), rock climbing, tree surfing and navigating a low ropes course. They are challenged to build bush huts they can shelter in.
Year 6 students visit Canberra and explore the many national monuments and museums as well as learn about the Australian Parliament.
Our Year 7 camp focuses on aquatic sports, including surfing, boogie boarding, and stand up paddle boarding. Students learn water safety, CPR, and how to survive in the bush.
In Year 8 students hike to an overnight camp site, preparing them for their more significant hikes in Year 9. They collaborate to prepare dinner and take responsibility for navigating their hikes.
Building First Nations Connections
Our School works with Indigicate, an indigenous-owned and operated Outdoor Education provider, to support many of our school camps as a way of teaching our students about the traditional customs and practices within a relevant contextual setting.
Our peak First Nations’ experience is the immersive Year 8 journey to Kakadu where our students are hosted by the Mirarr people at Jabiru Area School and are exposed to the unique history, beliefs and culture in the stunning natural scenery that makes up Australia’s far north.
Senior Camps
As part of our Nitzan program, our Year 9 students engage in an outdoor camp that helps to build students’ independence, resilience and develops life skills.
In Year 10, our students embark on Yesh, our Israel program, where students spend four phenomenal weeks in Israel, exploring Israel’s history, society, political system and natural environment.
Our Year 11 students spend time learning the skills in sailing and water navigation. The navigation skills required when sailing, and the team effort required in working and steering the yachts calls upon all students to communicate effectively with one another and assist each other in demanding situations on the water.
Our Year 12 students go away on a Shabbaton camp where they bond and mark Shabbat in the wilderness together.
"The Year 12 Shabbaton camp proved to be a rousing success. We strengthened our bonds of friendship, and delved into the somewhat frightening reality of what life will be like after high school. The camp activities invited us on a trip down memory lane. Among all the vim and vigour in the room, we started to appreciate that ‘not all good things last forever’. The introspection we took part in on this camp made it clear to me that the experiences I and my peers have had at King David are simply invaluable. Every friendship made and lost, every conversation with a teacher, and every game of footy played, have all contributed to the kind of personal development that is rarely found elsewhere. Truly, the experiences I’ve had at King David have helped me become my best self. Throughout the camp there was an unmistakable sense of community. It only took a quick glance to see my Year 12 cohort is one made up of students who truly care for one another. Throughout the camp I noted that people who to the outside eye looked to be complete opposites were having long conversations with each other. It is this sense of community that makes King David special."
Nitzan
Nitzan is our flagship full-day, weekly program designed to support and challenge our Year 9 cohort on their journey of self-discovery. The program is dedicated to growing our students in a way that supports healthy living beyond school. Nitzan gives our adolescents ownership over their learning, empowering them to build skills for their future through a variety of vibrant, dynamic and practical learning opportunities.
Nitzan students learn practical skills such as bicycle repair, growing vegetables, making coffee and sewing buttons. Our students volunteer with a range of care-based organisations, teaching them valuable social skills, compassion, and leadership.
Jewish Experiential Learning
As well as learning about Judaism in the classroom, our students participate in rich experiences that nurture their relationship with Jewish practices and history. These include opportunities to participate in tefillah (prayer), Kabbalat Shabbat, celebrating Chagim (festivals) and participating in acts of tikkun olam (social justice).
These avenues offer students the opportunity to explore their identity and beliefs. At the heart of this process is the building of a community that values Jewish heritage, promotes positive Jewish identity, and cherishes the views of each individual.