The Outdoor Education Group: What we do: Summit to Sea Trek

Dedicated to developing a sense of self, community and enviroment in young people

The Trek

The Outdoor Education Group (OEG) in partnership with its client schools conducts a challenging 10-12 day expedition trek through some of the most inspiring wilderness areas in NSW. The 300km trek starts in the Blue Mts. at either Kanangra Walls or Katoomba, and goes through the Kanangra Boyd, Nattai and Morton National Parks. The self-sufficient trek involves hiking/camping, mountain biking, rock-climbing / abseiling and canoeing as part of a continuous expedition concluding on the NSW coast at Shoalhaven Heads. Highlights include, riverside camping at Kowmung River, cave camping, an overnight solo on the beautiful Wombat Ridge overlooking Yarrunga Creek and a swim with waterproofed packs across Yarrunga Creek through the eerie drowned forest to reach Beehive Point.

This is a fantastic once in a lifetime opportunity for students wishing to consolidate their outdoor experiences. Given the duration of the Trek, participants will get to visit many beautiful places often hidden away and inaccessible on shorter trips. You'll also get to spend more time learning and using new skills and getting to know the people around you much better.

Those students completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme will be pleased to hear it's also possible to use this trek as a practice/qualifying expedition for either the Silver or the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Risk Management

OEG provides experienced group leaders who will be with the students 24 hours a day. OEG staff have a Wilderness Leaders First Aid qualification, as well as qualifications and experience in all relevant expedition skills.

The trek is also supported by specialist instructors for abseiling, mountain biking, rock-climbing and canoeing. A course-coordinator maintains a support network throughout the trek with 4WD vehicles, food and equipment drops and appropriate communications equipment.

An All Hours Contact (AHC) system exists between the school and the trek. As part of our emergency response procedure, the (AHC) plays an important role in supporting field staff in the case of logistical, equipment, staffing or vehicular difficulties, illness, evacuation or any other program delivery problems as required. The AHC is a trained OEG staff person, who is on-call 24 hours a day. The AHC will co-ordinate an appropriate response with staff in the field, and well as liaise with school and parents, and other relevant bodies to ensure the most appropriate and effective response to any given situation, as required.

Equipment and Food

OEG will supply students with all essential camping equipment, as well as food for the entire trek.

Food - This will be provided by OEG. Menus and quantities have been worked out in advance, leaving the initial task of dividing and packing the food into backpacks. Students will be totally self sufficient for the first 6 days from Kanangra Walls - Mittagong (140kms). Food re-supply drops will then occur regularly in the second half of the trek.

Equipment - It is vital that all personal clothing and trekking equipment be suitable for the tough terrain and variable weather conditions. (OEG provides a Clothing List)

OEG will supply all students with high quality 80 litre capacity wilderness backpacks, trangia stoves, metho fuel bottles and group tarps for camping.

Pricing

See OEG for details as pricing differs according to numbers/groups etc.

Further Information

Treks are only organised for and on behalf of interested schools. For more information contact your School Outdoor Education Co-ordinator or contact OEG directly at oeg@oeg.nsw.edu.au. OEG provides a comprehensive information night in conjunction with schools for interested students and their parents.