Kahiba - Our Outdoor Education Offering

Kahiba is Aboriginal for "youth" and is closely related to skills and opportunities learned in Scouts. Scouting became a formal part of the Boarders' lives. Cubs and Scouts were very popular weekend activities for the boys. This programme changed and the School developed its own programme called "Kahiba".

Outdoor Education for Younger Boys

Outdoor Education has always played a significant role in the life of Tudor House boys. The founder, Mr Inman, had his boys exploring the shores of Sydney Harbour when the school was located in Sydney (1897-1902). When the school moved into Hamilton House (later Inman House) in 1902, the boys continued to "learn by doing".

Free range children for Year 3 to Year 6

The Outdoor Education program incorporates the School's farm, orchard, creeks and dams, as well as the tree and vegetation regeneration and conservation schemes. Outdoor Education has continued to develop and a full Year 3 to Year 6 program is designed, with Kahiba remaining the key two year program for Years 5 and 6 boys.

Developing skills beyond those of just the classroom

Tudor House offers a unique, structured, outdoor education programme that develops skills and qualities beyond those possible in a traditional suburban day school. The program highlights a respect for others, personal growth and the environment. Tudor House’s 68 Hectares (169 acres) of park-like grounds provide a small boys’ paradise. The School’s renowned Kahiba outdoor self development programme encourages boys to explore their personal boundaries and to be equipped with life skills for success in the future. Exposure to challenges in a secure environment awakens in young people a belief in themselves, which will stay with them through the hurdles ahead. The very process of being confronted by new physical and emotional challenges in a new environment is inherently exciting and immensely rewarding.

Wide range of activities

Students enjoy a vast number of Outdoor activities such as;

exploring,
fishing,
canoeing,
camping out,
climbing trees,
orienteering,
cooking,
ropes activities,
knot tying,
building bush furniture and cubby houses,
riding bikes and
team building exercises.

Explicitly teaching values associated with success

Our boys learn lifelong skills and values such as confidence, independence, teamwork, leadership, tolerance, friendship, resilience and initiative. Boys grow in confidence because we enlarge their world of experience. Tudor House’s outdoor education program also offers to students many new and unusual challenges, obstacles and hurdles that resemble those that they will come across throughout their lives. Our boys develop confidence and experience challenges that stretch their boundaries. Tudor House’s outdoor education program encourages students to grow as resourceful individuals equipped for the future. We let you son love the experience of boys being boys, feeling free to grow in the great outdoors.

Working toward targets

Our boys work towards targets that develop the positive behaviour, responsible attitudes and wholesome values promoted in the Kahiba program, and achieving the targets means earning their Kahiba colours. This is done by demonstrating the required skills, attitudes and behaviours, in the activities and challenges presented throughout the Kahiba program. The badges available are:

Camp Safety / Camp Organisation
Camping Mastery
Cooking
Knot Tying / Bush Construction
Navigation
1st Aid Awareness / Bush Safety
Archery
Teamwork and Initiative
Community Service
Water Activity / Water Safety

Students who achieve the 10 badges qualify for the Kahiba award.

The Adventure

Testimonials

"Apart from schoolwork, we were taught the importance of good manners, respect to women and our elders – and in sport to be gracious when winning and to take defeat with a smile. Personally, I will never forget my Tudor years. They were by far the best schooldays of my life."

Boarding Old Boy, 1930-33