Experiential Learning
Experiential learning at Kingswood College builds upon the strong foundations established in the classroom by offering students rich, real-world experiences to test, apply, and extend their understanding.
Whether through outdoor education, community engagement, service learning, or workplace immersion, these experiences enable students to connect theory with practice in authentic and meaningful ways. Beyond academic development, experiential learning serves as a powerful catalyst for character growth.
We have intentionally designed a developmentally appropriate, staged program that evolves across the years of schooling:
- Years 7–9 focus on a compulsory, differentiated program that nurtures a love of service, connection to community, and appreciation of the outdoors. These years are designed to ignite curiosity, build teamwork, and foster personal growth through shared experiences.
- Years 10–12 emphasise student agency through choice and opportunities for independence. Programs during these senior years empower students to challenge themselves, pursue their passions, and engage meaningfully with the wider world through service, work placements, leadership opportunities, or immersive outdoor experiences.
Discover our Experiential Learning Experiences
Year 7 Adventure Camp
The purpose of The Warburton Adventure Camp is to provide a transformative and enriching experience that fosters personal growth, self-discovery, and the development of a strong and cohesive community. The beautiful setting of Warburton will provide the context for our exploration of relationships with ourselves, others, and our environment.
Year 8 Coastal Wilderness
In Year 8, the students at Kingswood College will build upon prior Outdoor Education experiences and learnings from their Year 7 Program. Students choose the camp that best suits their level of adventure.
Adventure Level 1: Environmental Discovery Basecamp groups will spend three nights in tents at Tidal River Campsite, where they will participate in an educational session with a Park Ranger, be introduced to skills in surfing, kayak on Tidal River and enjoy half-day walks.
Adventure Level 2: Overnight Campout Challenge groups will be based at Tidal River Campsite for two nights. They will spend one night at a hiker's campsite such as Halfway Hut. When at Tidal River, groups will participate in an educational session with a Park Ranger, be introduced to surfing skills, and enjoy gentle kayaking on Tidal River.
Adventure Level 3: Immersive adventure groups will spend three nights hiking between Oberon Bay Hikers Camp, Roaring Meg and Tidal River campsites. While at Tidal River, they will participate in a surf session.
The Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (commonly known as the Duke of Ed) is a global non-formal education program that helps young people aged 14–24 develop confidence, resilience, and valuable life skills through a personalised journey of growth and discovery. Offered in over 130 countries, the Award empowers students to challenge themselves across four key areas of Physical Recreation, Skills , Voluntary Service and Adventurous Journey.
At Kingswood College, the program is offered in 2026 from Years 8–12, with each level providing an age-appropriate challenge.
Choir Camp
This weekend gathering of our Middle and Senior School choirs represents a strategic investment in both musical achievement and student development. The intensive format allows for focused rehearsal time away from daily distractions, enabling our choirs to achieve a level of musical cohesion that would typically take weeks of regular rehearsals to develop.
The concentrated rehearsal schedule allows our music educators to introduce more complex repertoire and advanced techniques in an immersive environment. This ‘jump-start’ approach means that when regular rehearsals begin, ensembles will already have established their sound, learned challenging pieces, and developed the collaborative skills necessary for ambitious programming throughout the year.
Year 9 Tasmania Experience
The Tasmania Experience is a 5-day experiential learning program designed for Year 9 students at Kingswood College, crafted in partnership with Infuse Travel. Taking place in Term 1, the program immerses students in Tasmania’s breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and critical environmental ecosystems. It combines outdoor education, service learning, and personal development in a meaningful and adventurous setting.
The itinerary includes visits to iconic locations such as Port Arthur Historic Site, Freycinet National Park, and Bicheno’s wildlife ecology park. Activities range from sea kayaking and hiking to community service projects, with groups rotating through different experiences across the state.
Year 9 City Cite Experience
The City Cite Program offers Year 9 students an immersive, 2-week-long educational experience set in the heart of Melbourne’s central business district. Operating as an extension of the classroom, this program provides students with the opportunity to explore the social, political, and cultural fabric of urban life through hands-on inquiry, real-world learning, and civic engagement.
Hosted by City Cite, an established educational organisation focused on experiential metropolitan education, the program invites students to step out of the school setting and into the dynamic learning environment of the city.
Year 9 Service Week
The Year 9 Service Experience is a unique and formative opportunity for students to engage in meaningful acts of service that extend beyond the classroom and into the broader community. For one week in Term 3, students step away from their traditional learning environment to take part in a range of service-based activities designed to foster empathy, responsibility, and a deepened understanding of the world around them.
The Service Experience is an opportunity for our young people to spend time in service to their community. Students will participate in a variety of experiences that aim to connect with and serve others.
Year 10 Central Australia Trip
The Year 10 Central Australia Trip is a signature learning experience at Kingswood College—an immersive journey into the heart of Australia’s landscape, culture, and history Designed as a rite of passage for students entering their senior years, this multi-day expedition takes students through the Red Centre, offering a powerful blend of personal challenge, cultural engagement, and outdoor education.
This experience enables students to explore the breathtaking natural beauty of places such as Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Kings Canyon while engaging deeply with the stories, customs, and contemporary realities of First Nations peoples.
Year 10 Work Experience
The Work Experience Program is designed to give students in Year 10 the opportunity to engage in meaningful placements within real working environments These placements support students’ personal, academic, and career development by providing first-hand experience in the world of work.
Work experience helps students build independence, confidence, and responsibility while developing key skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. It prepares them for workplace expectations, enhances resumes, and shows real-world application of learning, often boosting academic motivation. Placements also offer networking opportunities that can lead to jobs, apprenticeships, or future career connections.
VCE Study Camp
The VCE Study Camp is designed to give students a strong, positive start to their final years of secondary school. It brings the next year’s VCE students together in a focused, supportive environment where they can prepare mentally, emotionally, and academically for the challenges of the following year. The timing of this camp is deliberate, as it takes place during the Orientation program and does not impact academic classes.
The Camp has three key purposes:
- Building Teamwork and Connections
- Developing Study Skills and Strategies
- Understanding the VCE Journey
Ultimately, the VCE Study Camp sets the tone for a successful final stage of school. It equips students not only with strategies and knowledge, but also strengthens friendships, motivation, and a shared commitment to doing their best.
Student Leadership Development Camp
Our Leadership Development Camp (invitational only) recognises that student leaders represent tremendous potential to positively influence school culture, drive meaningful initiatives, and serve as bridges between the student body and school leadership.
The transition into leadership roles presents both opportunities and challenges. Many capable students find themselves in positions of responsibility without adequate preparation for the complexities of leading their peers. This camp addresses that gap by providing targeted skill development while fostering the collaborative relationships essential for effective student governance and program implementation.
Research consistently demonstrates that peer leadership programs are most successful when leaders have strong interpersonal connections, shared vision, and complementary skill sets. By investing in both individual capacity building and group cohesion, we create the foundation for a leadership team that can tackle complex challenges, implement sustainable initiatives, and model the collaborative leadership Kingswood College values.
Years 10 & 11 China Cultural Trip
The China Cultural Tour aims to expose students in the Senior School to the Chinese language, providing them with the opportunity to practise their language skills in an authentic setting and develop relationships with their Chinese peers that can over their lifetime. By immersing themselves in the rich culture of China, students gain invaluable insights and experiences. Students visit the capital city of Beijing. The Cultural Tour in this city is led by an experienced guide who provides a different perspective on the different excursions and experiences.
Years 10 & 11 French Cultural Trip
This Study Tour aims to provide students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich culture, history and language of France. Students visit the cities of Lyon, Paris and Oyonnax. Through arrangements with our sister schools, Lycées Arbez Carme and Lycée Paul Painlevé, in the town of Oyonnax at the base of the French Alps, students immerse themselves in the French language and culture through their authentic interactions with students and homestay families.
At Kingswood, we are deeply committed to using learning beyond the classroom to actively cultivate and reinforce our core values of perseverance, kindness, excellence, courage, and respect. Through these purposeful learning moments, students deepen their knowledge while building the confidence, empathy, and resilience needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.
At Kingswood College we proudly work to fulfil our vision to embolden hearts and inspire minds in a nurturing environment, on land that holds deep cultural significance to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge and honour their Elders, past and present, and extend our respect to all First Nations people. Whenever we gather, and wherever we gather, we extend respect and dignity to the first inhabitants of our country and acknowledge the truth about the country on which our school has stood and now stands.
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CRICOS 00150G | ABN 63 006 186 812 | ASIC 006 186 812 | RTO 6334