Field Trips | |
Throughout the year, students take field trips that provide them with valuable educational experiences by extending classroom learning into other areas of daily life. Parents are required to provide Branksome Hall with their daughter’s up to date health information via the Portal. Students must confirm their agreement with the Code of Conduct in order to participate in field trips. Certain field trips require additional forms and/or third-party forms to be completed. Please consult the online school calendar for the dates of field trips. | |
Week Without Halls Grade 7–12 students all participate in Week Without Halls, an experiential week during which they travel and work together, addressing curricular and co-curricular themes. Grade 7: Grade 8 & 11: Grade 9: Grade 10: | |
Grade 7: Embracing Challenges Grade 7 students will participate in a five-day blended program, which includes a three day, two night off-campus activity based program at Muskoka Woods Camp. There they will focus on building relationships and a sense of community within the grade. Students will return to campus for a two-day on-campus program that encourages reflection as a tool for learning and planning for success in the year ahead. | |
Grade 8: Community-Building Trip All Grade 8 students participate in this four-day, three-night trip, run by Voyageur Quest, using the facilities at Camp Tawingo. This trip is a starting point for developing students’ outdoor skills and appreciation for nature, as well as a special opportunity to plant the seeds of personal growth and foster community spirit. The theme of “Finding Your Own Path” will set the stage for activities related to understanding social dynamics and leadership. Grade 11 students will have their Week Without Halls experience at the same place and time as Grade 8 students, allowing for leadership for Grade 11s and providing support for the Grade 8s and community building across the Senior and Middle School. The Grade 11 students will stay in cabins with the Grade 8 students and share some program elements, as well as having their own unique program. | |
Grade 9: Team-Building Trip Grade 9 represents a significant transition as it marks the beginning of high school. For some students it may mean the change to a new school. Developing independence, exploring leadership skills and developing community are also part of Grade 9. With this in mind, the Alive Outdoors team has created a program using the facilities at Camp Arowhon. Combined with the beautiful outdoor environment of this camp near Minden, students will participate in activities that focus on team-building, leadership and complete the preliminary skills and practice journey required for the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. | |
Grade 10: Duke of Edinburgh Canoe or Hiking Trip Since it is our goal that every Branksome Hall student will have achieved their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award by the end of Grade 10, we have made every effort to create opportunities to complete the elements of the program. Perhaps the most challenging and rewarding element is the Adventurous Journey. In the Bronze Award Program, students must complete a practice journey and then a minimum two-day, one-night camping trip in Algonquin Park. This fun-filled, exciting canoe and hiking trip promises to demonstrate student leadership skills and outdoor living skills. The four-day trip will conclude at Spirit Point, where students will have a meal together and discuss their journey. Branksome combines the practice journey and the expedition to complete the requirement. We have, therefore, made this trip available to any student wishing to complete this element of their Bronze Award. All Grade 10 students must participate in either the Duke of Edinburgh Trip Canoe or Hiking Trip. | |
Diploma 1: Retreat Students will travel to Camp Tawingo for their retreat, which provides an introduction to the core elements of the IB Diploma. The workshops are designed to motivate students to start the year off strong and introduce themes associated with Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay process. YMCA facilitators will work with students to promote team-building. Diploma 1 (Grade 11) students will have their Week Without Halls experience at the same place and time as Grade 8 students, allowing for leadership for Grade 11s and providing support for the Grade 8s and community building across the Senior and Middle School. The Grade 11 students will stay in cabins with the Grade 8 students and share some program elements, as well as having their own unique programs. | |
Diploma 2: On-Campus Retreat With the rest of the Senior and Middle School off campus, this is the perfect opportunity for the Diploma 2 (Grade 12) students to concentrate on some key elements of their final year of high school. Students may undertake elements of their courses that often take them off campus, including the Geography Field Study, the Science Field Study and Arts trips such as gallery tours and theatrical productions. Workshops on the university and career-planning process will also be incorporated to begin the university application process, including a university fair. | |
Diploma 1: McMaster University Trip The Diploma 1 (Grade 11) students go to McMaster University on a mandatory retreat to work intensively on their Extended Essay and sample university life. Using the McMaster library resources, they are able to continue conducting their research, build their detailed outline and/or write their Extended Essays. | |
Updated July 2019