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School and Youth Leadership Programs
Walking Kokoda with Kokoda Spirit across the war time Kokoda Track is an experience not just a holiday. We see things as an explorer, historian and adventurer.
When you trek Kokoda with Kokoda Spirit, you're participating in a personal discovery experience; you are truly living and participating in an historic and monumental Kokoda adventure. Our Kokoda School itineraries are designed specifically for our School groups and Youth Leadership programs. Our itineraries, dates and lengths of treks and projects are tailored to suit the goals and outcomes of the school or program.
We have structured our programs to develop the important skills young people need including, educational, community, personal development goals, skill development, group participation, confidence, self esteem, leadership, fitness and community connection.
Our trips focus on the history of the track, community projects, including immersion, humanitarian, Duke of ED, and student empowerment and leadership projects.
Kokoda Spirit is involved in a number of Youth partnership roles including, for the past 3 years, in the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program (KCYP). The KCYP is a program which has been developed to help young Australians who are at a crossroad in their lives and require an opportunity to reach their full potential. Kokoda Spirit will be again taking 84 young Australian Leaders across the track this year as part of the program.
Kokoda Spirit also continues its relationship with the MASP Youth Leadership Mentoring program in Victoria and has done so for the past three years.
We are heavily involved with Jobs Australia and their Indigenous Youth Leadership programs having led a group of Indigenous Leaders and Mentors across the Kokoda Track in their leadership program.
Every year Kokoda Spirit organises many expeditions for Schools across the Kokoda Track. The Kokoda Spirit school adventure is an authentic experience of different cultures, customs and landscapes where your students can develop a deeper understanding of the world around them and their own cultural heritage while still having fun.
Immerse yourself not only in the heroic and inspirational Australian Diggers battle stories, but also in the rich cultural heritage along the Kokoda Trail as we trek through local villages and spend time discovering the local customs and way of life of your local guides, their families, and the local villages along the Kokoda Track.
Some of the schools that have trekked with us include; Haileybury College, St Ignatius Riverview College, Hale School, St Luke’s Anglican College, Yarrawonga Secondary College, Mackillop College,Nhulunbuy School, Berne School, Newcastle Grammar, Victorian School of the Deaf, Sunshine Coast Grammar and Chancellor Park State College. Listen to this radio interview to find out what Newcastle Grammar thought of the trek or alternatively read their letter to Kokoda Spirit here
Our Kokoda Track trips offer an innovative and safe educational travel experience, focussing on interaction with the local communities and developing a greater understanding of the diverse and rich cultural heritage of PNG. Our educational journeys help students develop a sense of worth and self esteem, along with concepts of teamwork, leadership, motivation, goal setting, self discipline, peak performance and shared responsibility- the crossing of the Kokoda Track is an enormous achievement. We also ensure it is heaps of fun!
Whether you want to understand the battles along the Kokoda Track, challenge yourself physically and mentally over the tough terrain, appreciate the rainforest at first hand, or immerse yourself in the culture of the local communities, we can create an innovative and safe itinerary with experiences that you just can’t get on a regular school trip.
Dear Wayne
Thanks for the great experience that you gave us on the Kokoda Track.
We had a great time and learnt a lot.
It was definitely one of the best experiences of my life.
Many thanks.
Nick Skerritt
St Ignatius Riverview - Student
Our itineraries are specifically designed to suit your requirements and allow time for community projects along the Kokoda Track such as our Village Spirit, Village Reader and Village Gardener, participation in our remembrance ceremonies, teambuilding exercises, including the building of a stretcher from local materials, log bridge making, raft building, fire making to learning the local language and cooking techniques.
We can also build in specific learning outcomes specific for Duke of ED, Immersion and humanitarian projects including leadership and management, self esteem, team and character building, motivation, goal setting, stress management, discipline and peak performance.
And as we arrange every detail, from meals, insurance to risk assessments, you can travel with piece of mind. We have been organising school trips across the Kokoda Track for many years now, we can even help you with the paper work to get approval.
Trekking Kokoda with Kokoda Spirit is an experience not just a holiday; we trek with the perspective and knowledge of a historian and the passion and excitement of an explorer on a monumental adventure! We trek Kokoda, as it should be, with respect to those that fought on it, and with respect to the customs and beliefs of the landowners, villagers and people of PNG.
Some of the Schools that have trekked with us include
Dear parents,
Hopefully your boy has now adjusted back to school life following his adventure across the Kokoda track.
Thanks to all that have provided me with the wonderful feedback on the trip. No doubt, your boy has filled you in on all the events across the track. I am sure he has many wonderful memories that will stay with him forever.
In this week’s Viewpoint you will read a brief but insightful article written by Harry Gaynor.
The boys, parents and staff have gained so much from this trip. The physical and mental challenge has given them a reference point for future obstacles and challenges they will face;
All would agree they have a heightened awareness and profound respect for the men that fought on the track and the sacrifice and support given by the Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angels; All would agree they have a greater appreciation and deep respect for the local people in Papua New Guinea, so happy and content, caring and considerate, yet with so little in earthly possessions.
No photo could do justice to the wonderful relationships that were established between the porters and the boys.
At a later date we will hold a reflection dinner at the school to share those moments with you. I will make sure plenty of notice is given so that those travelling from country or from abroad may, if possible, make arrangements to attend.
On behalf of the Kokoda school staff, I would like to thank you for providing us with the opportunity to lead your boy through this journey. We all look forward to our reunion together to share this wonderful experience.
Regards,
Brett Donohoe
St Ignatius Riverview School – Teacher and Kokoda Organiser
Dear Wayne
Apologies for not saying thank you before we left Port Moresby. I probably would have cried!
It was a wonderful experience in so many ways; the beauty, the terrain, the history, the heat, the wet, the mud, the dirt, the companionship.
Your Leadership was outstanding!
Thank you for your sense of humour and sharing your passion. The Kokoda experience will live with me for a life time.
Best Wishes
Kym Skerritt
St Ignatius Riverview College - Parent
Our staff members are professional and qualified to lead these expeditions, and guarantee your expedition is everything and more than you expected!
Our comprehensive student workbooks and ongoing support and training programs are tailored to your school’s specific needs to support the curriculum priorities you identify.
If you are a teacher (or involved with a school) and are interested in hearing more about what Kokoda Spirit can offer, just email or call us to discuss your plans.
Contact Wayne or Michelle Wetherall at Kokoda Spirit and they will be pleased to assist in planning, organising and facilitating your requirements. |