Practical Outings and Camps

At Education Support, we specialize in practical, hands-on learning. What better way to test your student’s knowledge than to use a convenient day outing or extended camp? Bookings now open for 2025.

A – Day outings: Geography and related subjects.

Our series of practical outings to numerous focus points around Gauteng and surrounding areas is designed with your needs in mind. Each outing revolves around a dedicated central theme with numerous sub-themes included. What’s unique about our outings is that they can be easily customized for specific school requirements or cater to a multidisciplinary group. This customization process involves [particular steps or procedures]. This flexibility puts you in control of the learning process, ensuring a memorable, fun-filled experience for all participants.

All outings are full days (educators may adapt times to specific school requirements).  The facilitation cost for 2025 will range from R135 to R165 per learner, based on the number of learners (the average group size is 15 to 45). Add entrance or other costs. What’s more, each outing includes a complete set of notes and exercises. These comprehensive support materials, which will be sent to the school for printing before departure, are designed to complement work covered in class and support educators prior to the outing, ensuring you feel confident and prepared for the learning experience.

Themes covered by day outings:

• Landform studies using the Magaliesberg cableway.                                                                                                                                                  This theme includes links to 7 sub-themes: rock types/structure, rock and soil types/ vegetation types, microclimate, land use, economic sectors, topographical mapping, and the inclusion of satellite imagery. Then, not forgotten, some quality free time to take in the breathtaking view will add to the memorable day.
• River study – Fluvial geomorphology.                                                                                                                                                                          Two options: Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve or Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden. I prefer the more rugged Klipriviersberg, as it offers exposure to almost all of the set curriculum content: Drainage basins/ 1st order stream, urban influence on drainage, types of flow, and river features in both upper, middle, and lower course. It also offers a unique option to incorporate topographical mapping using my custom-drawn topographical map. This outing involves a roughly 5km hike. The Walter Sisulu venue is also magnificent, but access to the stream is limited, although most features are visible. I have also created a usable map. It is more of a walk and observation exercise.
• Rock types/landforms/ orienteering /topographical mapping.                                                                                                                      Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden. This full-day outing incorporates all of the above. We start with a general overview of the three major rock types but then see them in the field. We can discuss rock types and landforms as we hike while carrying out the orienteering and topographical components. We can calculate distances and gradients, take bearings, and observe earth movements, landforms, etc. Lunch atop the ridge overlooking Northern Johannesburg completes the exciting day. A final stop at the Witpoortjie waterfall is also a hit! This outing involves a hike of around 5 km.
• Urban land-use study.                                                                                                                                                                                                      The outing will involve driving a circular route with a few stops (Northcliff Hill, for example) to observe the spectacular view and a wide swath of the urban layout. A Saturday is a good off-peak time. We could plan the final route together with the educators involved. The route could extend as far as the Magaliesberg, around 250km.
• Geological structures and their influence on urban planning:                                                                                                                        Based on a similar approach to the urban study, this outing would involve driving across Johannesburg along a set geological traverse. It would include stopping at around six notable geological formations or spectacular view sites. The purpose is to study rock types and landforms and their influence on the city’s layout.
• Other day outings:                                                                                                                                                                                                         Some may depend on booking with a third party, which involves [specific steps or procedures]. I may give a pre-talk at the school or via an online recording to prepare learners and educators for the outing. This is in cases where specific technology or background needs prior explanation or preparation.
• Tswaing Meteorite Crater north of Pretoria.
• A power station visit is available for learners in grades 10 and older.                                                                                                                    It is located near Vereeniging and is open to visitors from Tuesday to Thursday only.
• The Rand Water facility at Vereeniging.  Suitable for all grades. Any day.
• The South African Weather Service at Irene. Visits are allowed on a Thursday only.
• Any other topic required by a school is possible on request. This ability is due to our comprehensive approach to multidisciplinary teaching and thinking.

B – Camps. Three or four- day options are available.

1 – Parys field camp.

The Parys campsite, located on a farm 5km from the town, offers many practical evaluation opportunities for geography and related subjects. The nearby Vaal River and the farm’s location within the ridges forming the inner ring of the impact structure provide a wide selection of practical experiences. The site can be an all-in-one experience, incorporating around 10 major themes. The campsite is a perfect setting for hands-on learning, with facilities including an ablution, a small pool, and a hall for indoor work or presentations.       Some of the notable themes offered or covered included:

1. A River rafting experience. It is possible but must take place on the 1st day of the camp, a weekday, to obtain the group discount of R250pp. The rafting experience forms an integral part of any river study theme.
2. Landform studies include mineral and rock basics, geological processes, geological mapping, examples of landforms originating as massive igneous intrusions, inclined strata seen as ridges, and an example, as seen in the Vaal River itself, as that of superimposed drainage.
3. Then, we have ample open space and a field to undertake orienteering, compass work, topographical mapping, and launch an absolute rocket with an engine.
4. Varied topography and geology help observe links between the local geology, soils, and plants.
5. Dark skies make for excellent star viewing and other night-time practical work and demonstrations.
6. Finally, the camp is balanced, allowing ample time for team building, games, walks, swimming, and more.

Parys camp has two options available:

1 – Three days, two nights:                                                                                                                                                                                                        Learners camp with tents and mattresses provided. The maximum group size accommodated is 75. All meals and snacks are included in the listed cost below. Limited indoor space with beds is available for teachers or parents accompanying groups.

Cost: R1280 per learner, all-inclusive. Adult indoor beds: R1600, all-inclusive. Rafting is an option, although time is a limitation on the three-day option. Rafting can, however, be included at an additional cost of R250 per learner, weekdays only. Please note that transport to and from the camp is not included in the price.

2- Four days, three nights:                                                                                                                                                                                                        All arrangements are the same as for option one. The all-inclusive cost will be R1380 + R250 for the rafting. The four-day option is preferred if focusing on and including rafting. The extra day allows for the full briefing, debriefing, a good post-rafting discussion, and rest.

Rounding off the educational value of this convenient camp experience:

1. Comprehensive notes and exercises supporting all topics covered are provided to schools for printing before departure. Some topics support a pre-camp presentation to prepare the learners. Presentations could be delivered live, online, or recorded.
2. All camps included at least one nightly presentation, slider show, or demonstration as part of the visual component of the learning experience.
3. All programs are open to revision to suit the specific school.