What does leadership look like when you take the classroom outdoors?
For the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale‘s Junior Council, it looked like navigating bush trails, encouraging teammates, stepping outside comfort zones, making decisions, communicating under pressure… and yes, hugging a giant Jarrah tree.
Recently, OTBT had the privilege of delivering a bespoke leadership-focused hiking experience for eleven Junior Councillors along the beautiful Stacey’s Loop in Jarrahdale.
More than a school excursion, this was an immersive outdoor learning experience designed specifically around the group’s leadership objectives.
Every organisation, school and youth group has different goals.
Some want to develop leadership.
Others focus on teamwork, resilience, communication, decision-making, environmental education or wellbeing.
Rather than delivering a standard hike, we design experiences around the outcomes you’re hoping to achieve.
For this Junior Council program, leadership became the thread woven throughout every kilometre of the journey.
Along the 2km trail, students:
As the morning unfolded, it was incredible to watch hesitant students become confident leaders, quieter personalities find their voice, and every participant contribute in their own unique way.
Sometimes all a young person needs is the right environment to discover what they’re capable of.
One of the greatest things about outdoor learning is that it removes many of the distractions of everyday life.
There are no classroom walls.
No desks.
No phones.
Instead, young people are presented with real situations that require communication, observation, empathy, problem-solving and decision-making.
Leadership becomes something they experience rather than something they’re simply taught.
The trail naturally creates moments where students encourage one another, celebrate successes, adapt to challenges and discover confidence they didn’t know they had.
Those are the lessons that stay with them long after the hike ends.
One aspect we’re especially proud of is creating experiences where every participant feels included.
No two young people learn in exactly the same way.
Our guides continually observe confidence levels, personalities and abilities throughout the hike, adapting activities and support so every child can participate, contribute and experience success.
That personalised approach was reflected perfectly by Sandy Bayly, Junior Council Program Officer at the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale:
” From the moment we arrived, guides Tracy and Laura made everyone feel welcome, safe and included. Their enthusiasm, incredible knowledge and genuine passion for the outdoors made the hike both engaging and educational.
What impressed me most was the way they connected with every student. They quickly recognised each child’s confidence level and abilities, adapting their approach to ensure everyone felt supported and encouraged. With patience, kindness and a great sense of humour, they helped even our more reserved or hesitant students step outside their comfort zones and achieve things they never thought they could.
It was wonderful to see our Junior Councillors grow in confidence, work together and develop a greater appreciation for our beautiful bushland environment. We are so grateful to Tracy and Laura at Off The Beaten Track WA for creating such a positive and memorable experience. We highly recommend them to any school or youth group looking for a safe, inspiring and rewarding outdoor adventure.“
— Sandy Bayly, Junior Council Program Officer, Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale
Feedback like this reinforces exactly why we do what we do.
Experiences in nature don’t just feel good—they’re backed by a growing body of research.
Studies have shown that spending time outdoors can help children:
Nature-based learning has also been shown to support collaboration, student engagement and social-emotional development, making it an ideal environment for developing future leaders.
Every school and organisation is different.
That's why we work alongside teachers, youth leaders and community organisations to develop customised hiking experiences aligned with your objectives.
Some of the themes we can build programs around include:
• Leadership
• Collaboration and decision-making
• Teamwork and communication
• Environmental education
• Wellbeing and resilience
• Confidence building
• Aboriginal culture and connection to Country (in partnership with Traditional Owners)
• Local history and place-based learning
Whether you're planning a school excursion, youth leadership camp, Junior Council activity or community program, we'll work with you to create an engaging, educational and memorable experience that your participants will still be talking about long after they leave the trail.
If you're looking for a school excursion or youth hike that goes beyond simply walking through the bush, we'd love to help.
Our guided hiking experiences combine adventure, education and personal growth to create meaningful experiences that inspire young people to lead, connect and thrive—one step at a time.
