DSA : Outdoor Adventure

Introduction

In Greendale Secondary School, Outdoor Adventure Education is an integrated approach to learning and development in which abstract character attributes and specific Outdoor Education (OE) related skillsets are nurtured through concrete experiences. ‘Learning by Doing’ is the hallmark of outdoor & adventure education.

Outdoor Education, both at school and on residential courses, enable students to enjoy challenging and unfamiliar experiences that test and develop their physical, social and personal skills.
Adventure Education, in offering students new and exciting challenges, helps them learn about assessing and managing risk. In the process and conduct of the activities, students’ personal qualities and leadership skills are strengthened.

Highlights - General

Students accepted under DSA-Outdoor Adventure will be developed through a comprehensive and rigorous talent development programme that involves national certification programmes and Inter School competitions so that they will have the ability and confidence to perform outdoor education advocacy roles at various platforms in Greendale Secondary School. These students will be closely guided and mentored so that they will be able to achieve a well-rounded education here at Greendale Secondary School:

Selected for National Certification programmes: Swimsafer Certification, SCF 1 star kayaking (with the option to pursue 2 star kayaking), SMF Rock climbing level 1 (with the option to pursue level 2 Rock Climbing)
Selected to participate in our Annual 2D1N Sea Expedition.
Opportunity to represent school in GaRang competition, National Orienteering Race and other Rock Climbing competitions
Involvement in the planning and implementation GaRang competition and Sea Expedition
Possible participation in Republic Polytechnic’s Advance Elective Modules related to Outdoor Education.
Possible work attachment to organisations that promotes Environment Awareness.

Highlights - Outdoor Adventure Club or Canoeing CCA Membership

All DSA-OA selected applicants are channelled into the School’s ODAC or canoeing. Members in ODAC will undergo a 4-year training and development programme that hone students in 19 Outdoor Education skills areas while members in Canoeing will be trained to represent Greendale in National School Games Canoeing.

Highlights - SCF 1 Star Kayaking Certification (with the option to pursue 2 Star Kayaking)

Students accepted under DSA-Outdoor Adventure will have the opportunity to participate in the 12-hour certification programme, which is officially certified under the Singapore Canoeing Federation (SCF), which aims to introduce beginners to the activity and provide students with water confidence to partake in a safe and enjoyable way. Interested students can opt to develop the range of basic strokes and maneuvers by undergoing the 2-Star Kayaking Certification and participate in a sea expedition of at least 6 km.

Highlights - SNCS Sport Climbing Level 1 (with the option to pursue Level 2)

Singapore National Climbing Standards (SNCS) Sports Climbing Level 1 is the beginner’s introduction to climbing. This is a one full day top rope certification course (7 hours). This course is designed for people with little or no prior knowledge of Sport climbing and wish to pick up the sport for leisure or more serious climbing. Interested students can opt to upgrade to SNCS Sport Climbing Level 2 (14 hours) certification course to learn how to lead climb and lead belay. This course builds on the top-rope skills acquired from SNCS Sport Climbing Level 1 and teaches a progression into lead climbing on sport climbing walls.

Highlights - Project GARanG Representation

DSA-OA candidates will also have the opportunity to assist in the conduct (Secondary 1 and 2) and planning (Secondary 3) or participation in the actual Event, a school based adventure race against competitors from other schools.

Project GARanG is a platform where Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) skills can be showcased in a competitive manner. The event itself consists of 2 concurrent events. The first event, Adventure Race, is open to all Secondary Schools island wide. It is a foot race which competitors need to combine adventure skills such as navigation, cycling and camp craft. The second event, GeCKo, is a rock wall speed climbing event open to all Primary 4 to 6 school students.

Highlights - National Orienteering Race (Schools) Representation

DSA-OA candidates will also have the opportunity to participate NORS against competitors from other schools. The competition will test the participants’ skills such as map reading, pacing and usage of compass bearings. To keep the competition exciting, the venue of the competition changes from place to place every year.

Highlights - Participation in Republic Polytechnic's (RP) School of Sports, Health and Leisure (SHL) AEM: Developing Outdoor & Adventure Learning Activity

Successful DSA-OA candidates may get the opportunity to participate in RP’s Advanced Elective Module (AEM) which will equip them with the skills to plan, organise and implement outdoor adventure experiential activities. It will also boost their self-confidence and develop their leadership skills.

Participants will:

Be introduced to Kolb’s experiential learning cycle and its benefits
Learn how to write a lesson plan for an experiential activity
Understand team dynamics
Learn about the wide array of different leadership styles to lead a high performance team
Be introduced to the Risk Analysis and Management System (RAMS) framework to reduce risk and ensure a safe learning environment for activity participants.

Students will also get a chance to participate in a one-day outdoor challenge course as well as conduct a team-building activity. This AEM also provides students aspiring to pursue a career in outdoor learning and adventure a chance to experience RP Diploma in Outdoor and Adventure Learning programme.