Outdoor and Environmental Studies

Description

VCE Outdoor and Environmental Studies explores the dynamic relationships between humans and outdoor environments, both locally and across Victoria. Students examine how outdoor environments have been understood, used, and impacted over time—from Indigenous perspectives and early European interactions through to contemporary environmental issues. The term ‘outdoor environments’ includes a range of landscapes, from protected wilderness to urban environments affected by human activity.

Through both theoretical and practical experiences, students develop a deeper appreciation of nature and learn to critically evaluate the sustainability of human interactions with the environment. They also explore connections to Country and the ways in which environmental health is influenced by both natural processes and human action. This subject encourages students to think critically about the future of outdoor environments and the importance of maintaining sustainable relationships with them.

Unit Topics

Unit 1: Connections with Outdoor Environments

• Exploring personal and cultural relationships with nature
  
• Safe and sustainable participation in outdoor experiences
  
• The role of outdoor environments in shaping identity and wellbeing 

Unit 2: Discovering Outdoor Environments

• Investigating the characteristics of different environments
  
• Observing and assessing environmental impacts
  
• Planning and participating in independent outdoor experiences 

Unit 3: Relationships with Outdoor Environments

• Changing human interactions with outdoor environments over time
  
• Historical and contemporary relationships with Australian landscapes
  
• The influence of social and political factors on environmental use and protection 

Unit 4: Sustainable Outdoor Relationships

• The importance of healthy outdoor environments for the future
  
• Evaluating practices and strategies for sustainable environmental use
  
• Investigating current environmental issues and management approaches

 

Skill Development

Students build a wide range of skills throughout the course, including:

• Practical outdoor skills (e.g., camping, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, surfing, skiing)
  
• Teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving
  
• Personal organisation, resilience, and communication
  
• Environmental observation, analysis, and evaluation

Possible Assessment Tasks

Assessment is varied and may include:

• Multimedia presentations and research tasks
  
• Multiple choice, short and extended written responses
  
• Data interpretation and evaluation of case studies
  
• Practical participation and reflective journals

Activities/Camps/Excursions

Students engage in a mix of classroom learning and outdoor experiences. Across the year, students participate in excursions, day trips, and camps that may involve hiking, high ropes, rock climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, skiing, and surfing. These experiences help students apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world settings and develop confidence in outdoor skills.

 

Career Options

This subject provides a strong foundation for further study and careers in:

• Outdoor education and guiding
  
• Adventure tourism and ecotourism
  
• Environmental science, research, and policy
  
• Conservation, land management, and agriculture
  
• Teaching and education
• Park ranger
• Geography, Earth Science or Environmental Science
• Emergency and Disaster Management
• Recreation Planning and Community Development