Thurston Outdoor Education Centre: The Dell policy
Contents
Created: February 2021
Introduction
The Dell offers an outdoor classroom environment that can be multifunctional allowing for sessions such as bush and fire craft. This may include the use of lighting, the fire pit, tripod kettles and tools (such as knives or axes).
It can be used for day sessions or as an evening activity.
Venue
The Burrows is a fenced area with horseshoe seating around a fit pit, which is marked with rope.
It is in the meadow to the right of the boathouse track.
Staffing
- Ratio: The normal instructor / student ratio.
- Staff should be suitably trained and experienced for the aspects of the activity to be undertaken.
Equipment
- Flint and steel, matches and kindling.
- Fire Pit.
- Knife and or axes.
- Tripod Kettle.
Operating considerations
- Through briefing to be given to all participants.
- Suitable clothing for the time of year and conditions (sunburn, ticks, midges etc).
- Ensure adequate supervision when using tools.
- Ensure adequate supervision when lighting, maintaining and extinguishing fire.
- Ensure means of extinguishing fire available.
- Ensure participants have water washed hands prior to fire craft (i.e. Hand santizer has not been used due to flammable properties).
- This is not a suitable location for Kelly kettles due to the gradient of the venue.
- Ensure the fire pit is only approached from the level ground at the base (west / lake side of the enclosed area) rather than from the sides or above. The fire pit is cordoned with a rope to highlight proper access.
- Ensure the gate to The Dell remains closed to prevent live stock entry.