Chesterhouse School

Outdoor education is an integral part of the holistic package offered to our children at Chesterhouse. We believe that there is no greater extension of the classroom than the great outdoors and have created a very exciting camps programme for our Senior School pupils.

Camps provide opportunities for expanding education beyond the classroom; we offer a broader programme – taking children into nature and developing skills such as using a compass, pitching a tent, cooking ones’ own food, learning how to hike, looking after oneself.

At Chesterhouse, personal relationships between pupils and teachers are considered important and overnight camps provide an interaction which at times, the classroom does not. This is especially powerful with new pupils in a school and their integration.

When our teachers and auxiliary staff go on camps we get to know our children so much better; and in turn they each other. Camps can provide the space for personal reflection which our noisy society does not.

Our outdoor education programme provides the possibility of learning about subjects like Geography, History and Biology first hand, rather than from a textbook. Chances to meet new communities, engage in real outreach and environmental work are given

The Global trend at the world’s and South Africa’s best schools is towards more outdoor education rather than less. One of the driving principles of our outdoor education programme is the need to find a unique programme that is based on who we are; this programme is unique to Chesterhouse, our environment and resources.

Camps also provide an ideal opportunity to assess and develop leadership under testing conditions.

Nature based camps allow a real closeness to God’s creation and an environment where children are far more open to spirituality than the formal school setting. Indeed by wanting our children out there, we commit how strongly we feel about God’s creation.

Outdoor education equally offers interesting outreach options; these include working with schools near camp sites. The advantage here is there is time to talk and interact in a neutral environment and really get to know each other.

Camps allow for new experiences and expanded horizons. So far the annual camps have always given children experiences they have not otherwise had, taken them to places they would otherwise not have visited, met people they would not have known. This broadened life experience develops a confident child not afraid of our world.

I look forward to working with your child in the great outdoors

James Frazer
Deputy Head: Senior School

Senior School camps 2012 :