Year 7

Four exciting days of study await Year 7 students on their first visit to The Grange. Our theme for the program is The Natural Environment, and we utilize the 34 hectares of Grange property as well as the National Park for our studies.

With an emphasis on the relationships between living things and their environment, students visit a range of different Blue Mountains ecosystems and ponder the reasons why they are there. Over the past 20 years students have been working with Rangers from the NPWS undertaking detailed biodiversity studies.

This practical, hands on approach to the study of ecology is a model we apply throughout our programs.

The expedition phase of our program is conducted in the Mount Wilson area of the Blue Mountains National Park. Here the Wollemi wilderness provides the backdrop to an experience focused on developing expedition and navigation skills. A spectacular hike leads us to our campsite, where teams setup camp and prepare dinner.

Our evening is spent fireside, meeting with and learning from the areas original custodians the Dharug people.

Information about students' requirements at The Grange can be found in MyBarker, the School Portal.

Year 8

Year 8 attends The Grange in Geography classes, and our program is themed “Human Impacts on the Environment”. Students examine the impacts of urbanization, tourism, agriculture and energy production on the natural environment, building on their learning in Year 7 with diverse and engaging field studies.

Wollemi National Park and the spectacular Wolgan Valley is the inspirational location for our expedition. Carrying all their personal equipment, each team will hike through spectacular eucalypt forest, amongst rock pagodas and pass through the famous glow worm tunnel. Our overnight camp is setup below the towering cliff lines in the old mining town of Newnes. This part of the valley is bustling with wildlife and we share our camp with the local kangaroos, wallabies and wombats. After dinner, an evening walk through the ruins displays the rich industrial history of this very special place.

Information about students' requirements at The Grange can be found in MyBarker, the School Portal.

Year 9

Building upon their learning in Years 7 and 8, the program in Year 9 ramps up the expedition to a 3 day journey in the wilderness. The Megalong Valley and Grose River Valley are the areas in which the expedition is conducted.

The Blue Gum forest is regarded as the birthplace of conservation in Australia. Saved from logging in 1930’s, it has become the core of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Widely considered as Australia's best bushwalking destination, the Grose Valley is home for two nights during our final Grange expedition. This expedition is the culmination of three years training and practice and the students are challenged to undertake this remote area walk making many decisions on their own.

Information about students' requirements at The Grange can be found in MyBarker, the School Portal.

Student Leaders Program

Students in Year 9 and 10 have the opportunity to contribute to The Grange programs by volunteering as program leaders.

The leadership program is designed to equip students with skills in servant leadership, group management and decision making. The program provides genuine opportunities to learn and develop these skills as role models in an outdoor context.

Students with a healthy sense of adventure should register their interest with their Head of House.