Colo

St Joseph's owns and operates its own well-appointed outdoor education centre on a 30 hectare site on the beautiful Colo River. It is located in the upper Colo Valley, approximately 45 kilometres north-west of Windsor, on land adjoining the Wollemi National Park.

This centre provides students with inspiring challenges and opportunities that are not available in a traditional classroom setting. A sequential program operates in Years 7, 8 and 9, with boys attending camps from four to eight days. Students are accommodated in cabins in small groups. Each cabin has its own showers, toilets and relaxation area.

The outdoor activities incorporate a sense of adventure and challenge and include orienteering, group problem solving, bushwalking, canoeing, mountain biking, rock climbing, adventure ropes course, bushcraft and expeditions. The activities promote the personal and interpersonal growth of the boys, and foster team building and cooperation skills.

These camps are not designed to produce good rock climbers or mountain bike riders. Instead, they aim to help boys on their journey towards becoming resilient, competent, caring and confident young men.

Staff

The centre is staffed by specialist outdoor education teachers. These teachers are accredited, well trained and highly experienced, and are all certified in Wilderness Leaders Advanced First Aid. They undertake regular training and professional development.

Safety

Colo has an outstanding safety record.

Since 1988 the centre has had approximately 50,000 participant days of outdoor activity without serious injury.

A safety report is compiled by the centre two (2) times per year. The safety report for the first half of 2007 reported the injury rate was 0.8 per 1,000 participant days. In the second half of 2007 Colo recorded an injury rate of 3.88 per 1,000 participant days. Any injury is attended to immediately, and in an appropriate manner, by Colo staff.

Inspection and maintenance of equipment is carried out in accordance with Colo's maintenance schedule and safety practices. Where appropriate equipment is retired and replaced. The adventure ropes course is well maintained and annually inspected by an independent external specialist to ensure it is safe for students to use.

Parents and families can access the most up-to-date Colo documents and forms by going to the
Joeys Online Parent Portal.

Colo bulletins

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