Planning and managing outdoor journeys (SACE Stage 2 Outdoor Education)

What this dot point is asking

You must show that you can plan, organise and manage an outdoor journey. In Assessment Type 2 you document this planning, and you have at least one chance to plan, lead and facilitate an activity or journey or part of one.

Setting aims and choosing a route

Start with the purpose of the journey: skill development, environmental study, personal challenge, or a combination. Aims shape every later decision. Then choose a route that matches the group's experience, fitness and time available.

Route planning uses topographic maps and trip notes to estimate distance, total ascent, terrain type and water availability. A common rule of thumb (Naismith's rule) allows about one hour for every five kilometres of distance plus extra time for climbing. Always plan conservatively for a school group and build in rest and buffer time.

Logistics and organisation

Logistics are the practical arrangements that make a journey possible: transport to and from trailheads, permits and bookings for campsites or parks, communication plans, emergency contacts and trip intentions lodged with a responsible person. A trip plan should record the route, daily distances, campsites, escape routes and expected return time so that someone off the trip knows where you are and when to raise the alarm.

Group organisation includes allocating roles such as navigator, first-aider, cook, and timekeeper, and agreeing on group expectations and decision-making before departure.

Food and equipment

Food planning balances energy needs, weight, perishability and cooking time. Active days on a hike may require high-energy, lightweight food; menus are planned per person per meal and checked for dietary needs. Water is critical in dry Australian environments: you plan where you can refill and carry enough between sources.

Equipment is planned as a checklist covering shelter, sleep, cooking, navigation, first aid, communication, clothing for the expected weather, and personal items. The aim is to be adequately equipped without carrying unnecessary weight. Equipment must suit the environment, such as sun protection and ample water for the Flinders Ranges, or warm and waterproof layers for alpine or coastal conditions.

Contingency and sustainability planning

A plan is only as good as its response to things going wrong. Contingency planning identifies what could change, an injury, bad weather, a slower pace, a closed track, and prepares responses such as alternative routes, escape points, rest days and bailout transport. You also plan to minimise environmental impact: small groups, established campsites, fuel stoves, carrying out all waste and respecting cultural sites.

Documenting your planning

In Assessment Type 2 you collect and annotate evidence of your planning. Strong documentation explains your decisions and the reasoning behind them: why this route, why this food plan, why these contingencies. Reflection on how the plan worked in practice, and what you would change, is as valuable as the plan itself.