Luke Hartley - Discovering a Spirit of Adventure

Luke Hartley, Head of College at Woodridge College and Preparatory School, South Africa, talks about how Adventure is not just about taking a break from the classroom, but is as an amazing educational tool, to build personal growth and character, prepare leaders and allows young people to express themselves and transform them into young adults of significance.

Transcript

Good day everyone. My name is Luke Hartley and I have the privilege of heading up Woodridge College, situated in the eastern Cape of South Africa. Our setting at the foothills of the Vitaclip Mountains to the north, the Fonstadens Gorge to the west, Yellowwoods Game Reserve to the south, and the Fonstardens Fly Reserve to the east provide us with the ideal venue for adventure pursuits. At Woodridge College, the Round Square Ideal of Adventure is not just something we speak about, it's something we live every day. It's woven into the very fabric of who we are as a school. Adventure to us is far more than just an outdoor activity or physical challenge. It is a deliberate and powerful tool for developing character, resilience and leadership in all our pupils. From the earliest grades in our preparatory school, our students are exposed to adventurous games around our nature reserve, where the pupils are encouraged to just play and build an attachment to nature. As they get older, the prep starts to start to take on adventurous challenges, which are fun, but do start to focus on the important round square discoveries of teamwork, where they have to work together in groups to tackle shared challenges, and then of course courage, where pupils have to stretch themselves beyond their perceived capabilities in taking on physical challenges and overcoming some of their social and emotional fears. These early camps are so important in building confidence in our children. As our students move into the college, each grade has the opportunity to go on two camps per year. In grade eight to ten, the focus of our camps is very much on the importance of adventure in building character and leadership. In grade eight, through the summer sports season, each grade eight chooses an afternoon activity to participate in our outdoor program. The purpose is to get them to build up a skill set that makes their adventurous journeys easier through organization equipping them with a skill set that also helps in minimizing risk. The adventurous journeys are difficult physical challenges, and by having the right set skills, it makes the discomfort easier to deal with. The camps create an opportunity for our pupils to step beyond their comfort zones, whether it's setting up a tent in a gale force wind, cooking over an open fire or gas cooker, or working together to cross a river. These experiences are carefully designed to stretch, challenge, and grow our pupils. Each grade camp builds on the one before it. In grade eight, the camp focus is on orientation and preparation for expeditions. Here the round square discoveries we focus on our self-awareness, teamwork, inventiveness, and problem solving. In these camps we want our pupils to know what their own strengths are and to see how they can add positively to the group. The groups are then given situations in which they have to come up with ways of overcoming problems. This is such a confidence builder for these kids. In grade nine, the pupils do two expeditions, with the second being a real challenge of covering over forty kilometers in two days. Here the discoveries we focus on are courage, tenacity, and compassion. As this is such a physical challenge, compassion and empathy are key for the individual members of each to help each other out when the going gets tough. For each individual to complete this particular journey, they really have to dig deep, which develops a mental toughness. So for the first two years of the college experience, our grade eight to nine pupils are gradually prepared for something greater. And then in grade ten comes the way, a twenty one day journey covering just short of four hundred kilometers on either foot, on bicycles or paddling down the Khamtus River. For our grade tens, the way marks a turning point, not just in their school life, but in their lives as young adults. It is a physically demanding, mentally tough, and emotionally rich experience. Over these three weeks, students hike through the beautiful Bavyans wilderness and unforgiving terrain. They carry what they need on their backs for the first seven days. They take turns leading their group, solving problems, making decisions, and supporting one another through both highs and lows. There are no cell phones, no easy exits, no shortcuts, and that's the point of the way. Because it's in those moments when they are tired, uncomfortable or uncertain that they discover something extraordinary, that they are stronger than they thought they were, more capable, more compassionate, more resilient. They learn how to lead, how to serve, and how to preserve. They begin to understand the value of reflection and teamwork and of pushing through even when the path gets tough. At the end of every day, the group has a reflection session, reflecting on what worked and what did not work on a particular day. They give feedback to the individual who led the group on that day, focusing on what they did well as a leader, once again building confidence. The way isn't just about reaching a destination. It's about transformation, it's about challenge by choice. Our students return changed, they walk taller, they speak with more confidence, they show greater empathy and leadership. The way is an amazing grinding experience for our pupils. This is the true power of adventure at Woodridge. It shapes our pupils into grounded, capable, and courageous young people, ready to face the world with open hearts and steady minds. But key to this experience is our staff. They give so much of themselves and their own life experiences. As we all know, good teachers play a vital role in leading adventures journeys like the way. At Woodridge College, where the experience goes far beyond the physical challenge. These journeys demand more than just logistical planning. They require mentorship, emotional intelligence, and the ability to inspire growth in young people. They not only ensure safety and organization, but also nurture resilience, teamwork, and self-discovery in our pupils. Their guidance helps transform a demanding trek into a meaningful life experience where the kids develop confidence, leadership, and a deeper connection with nature and one another. At Woodridge, our teachers are the backbone of not just the way, but all our adventurous journeys, using adventure as an amazing educational tool. So when we speak about the round square ideal of adventure, we are really referring to the personal growth of our young people in our care. Adventure is not just taking a break from the classroom, it's about building character, about preparing leaders. Adventure allows young people to express themselves and transform them into young adults of significance. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to listen to me. Go well and stay safe.