It was the first time many of the school community were able to check out the campus that students venture to during each year of their senior schooling to take part in outdoor activities and experiential learning outside the classroom environment.

The day commenced with a Welcome to Country and a traditional smoking ceremony performed by Elders, followed by Remembrance Day observances. 

The day featured a host of activities including tree planting activities, burying of a Cranbrook time capsule, a photography competition, orienteering, paddock cricket and giant board games. 

Cranbrook School Headmaster Nicholas Sampson said it was a delight to open the campus up to so many members of the school community, giving them a deeper appreciation of the unique educational offerings the Wolgan Valley Campus and its innovative design provides for students.

“At Cranbrook we believe that a student’s academic experience should not stop at the classroom door, but all our students should be given the opportunity to participate in educational and team activities to enhance their collaboration, organisational and leadership abilities,” Mr Sampson said.

“With Cranbrook School celebrating its 100th year this year, the establishment of our Wolgan Valley Campus will allow us to provide students with a broader educational platform into our second century.”

The campus has hosted boys taking part in the ‘Cranbrook In The Field’ outdoor learning program since 2017, with the school continuing to broaden the educational opportunities provided with more than a dozen excursions for subjects including Biology and Visual Arts as well as HSC study camps occurring at the site this year.

“This remarkable facility and the spectacular surrounds enables us to take learning beyond the classroom for our students and to inculcate valuable skills critically important to their educational and personal growth,” Mr Sampson said.

Cranbrook School Head prefect Tully O’Regan was impressed with the beauty of the school’s new campus and he shared the skills and invaluable life experiences which he had garnered through his own involvement at the Wolgan Valley Campus with the attendees.

“The Wolgan Valley Campus gives us a different outlook on learning. It’s a classroom where we don’t learn behind a desk. The opportunities are vast and the adventure can be unlike expectations with the subject to site link reinvigorating our learning experience,” he said. 

The day also featured recognition of the work that has gone into establishing the campus, with builder Hines Construction recognised for the commendation it has recently received for its work on the project. 

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The company has been recognised through major building awards for innovative design, the Master Builders Association (MBA) of NSW awards, receiving top commendations, including excellence in construction awards for best NSW student accommodation project valued up to $7.5m; The Western NSW region best commercial project valued $5m-$10m; and Western NSW Regional best use of timber. 

The campus has already received a number of peak industry accolades as part of the Master Builders Association of NSW Western Regions awards ceremony. 

“Our breathtaking country campus provides students with that opportunity and it was an absolute pleasure to publicly recognise Hine Construction as part of our recent opening celebrations for the role they have played in realising this vision,” Mr Sampson said. 

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