The wet weather is continuing across South East Queensland, with our Marrapatta campus at Imbil receiving 286 mm of rain in the last two weeks. This significant rainfall, on an already saturated catchment, meant the Marrapatta campus and surrounding Mary Valley communities experienced their third flood this year, causing the postponement of Year 8 Outdoor Education programs. When the waters receded on Monday, I was reminded of the power of mother nature as I surveyed the damaged access roads. Unfortunately, the road damage sustained this fortnight has been the most we have seen this year, making the road inaccessible for the Year 8 programming. In true Marrapatta and BGGS spirit, when faced with the adversity and disappointment of cancelling further Year 8 Outdoor Education programs, the Marrapatta team decided to choose to be adaptable and adventurous. If the students cannot come to us, we will take Marrapatta to the students. And so, Marrapatta in the City was born.
While the heart of Marrapatta can never be replaced, the dedicated Marrapatta staff adapted the program elements from the beautiful green hillsides of Marrapatta to the green grassy slopes of Victoria Park to ensure no Year 8 student missed out on their learning time in nature. We are fortunate to have natural spaces right at our back door, spaces to connect with the world around us, places to sit and reflect, and places to make memories with each other. The Year 8 girls definitely made memories—canoeing in the School pool, exploring the trails at Mt Coot-tha, and learning to cook independently on their camp stoves were a few of the highlights. While the activities are visible, it is the deep underlying conversations around the theme ‘navigate’ that is the bedrock of this program. It is the confidence and capacity that grows when students try something new for the first time, it’s the emotional growth when they navigate the social challenges of community living and it’s the adaptability they show in the dynamic outdoor environments. The Year 8 students are to be congratulated on their efforts this week in working together to navigate what it takes to be part of a successful team. We look forward to welcoming you up to Marrapatta soon.
Ms Kim Wood
Director of Outdoor Education
View a selection of photos from Marrapatta in the City in Photos of the Week.
