Introduction to the Unit
During Semester two I participated in the Muir Outdoor Learning Program Course. The course consisted of archery, orienteering, snorkelling and an overnight camp to Rottnest Island. My goals for this elective were to try activities outside of my comfort zone and to do a more physical subject that involved hands-on learning.
The weather conditions at Coogee were not great to begin with. The sky was dark and cloudy, and the water was not that clear. This made it hard to snorkel and left me feeling not that confident when going in. Due to the weather conditions it was hard to see under water and watch my partner. To manage this my partner and I stayed close together so we could see each other better and I practiced putting my head in the water where I could stand to get familiar with breathing through a tube.
On the first day of camp we went to Little Parakeet Bay on Rottnest Island. While snorkelling there we had the opportunity to do a deep dive and swim through. Although I was not too confident in my swimming ability, I persevered and participated in the optional activity. This event was significant to me because it eased me into the nature of snorkelling allowing me to feel more free and snorkel for fun. While at base camp we did an Amazing Race which was energising and great fun. My group did a lot of running and towards the end met some of the locals living on Rottnest Island. The people there were handing out lollies for Halloween and were so nice to give us some as well. An animal that I saw that really stuck out to me was an Angelfish swimming by itself. I also saw a few schools of fish. The fauna was mainly coral and seaweed growing on rocks or floating in the ocean.
Capabilities I Developed
Resilience – By getting back into the water and snorkelling even when I felt less confident.
Collaboration – Working in a team during the Amazing Race that took place on Rottnest Island.
Effective Communication – Asking for help when I was struggling during archery.
Leave No Trace
The Leave No Trace Principle that I have seen and applied most throughout Muir is to dispose of waste properly. While at Rottnest Island I was made aware of the wildlife and fauna and learnt the importance of disposing any waste I saw properly to preserve their natural habitats.
My Takeaways from this Unit
From this unit I learnt that I am incredibly persistent and capable of knowing my limits and going beyond them. This means that in the future I can push myself harder and do tasks outside of my comfort zone.
