Kindilan is an aboriginal word meaning “place of joy”. Here at Kindilan Outdoor Education and Conference Centre, ‘joy’ is certainly the underlying spirit of everything we do. We also embrace the highest level of customer service and aim to exceed your expectations in every service delivery we offer (whether it be catering, accommodation, booking services or outdoor education programs).

Kindilan provides quality programs and services, and you can really feel how much our staff enjoy their work and being there for all of our clients. This atmosphere is often commented upon by visitors to the centre, and so we have tried to summarise it into a Kindilan philosophy. This philosophy stems from our manager (Rebecca Fox)'s embedded positive nature and is actively driven by the team and incorporated into our professional approach.

Our Philosophy

We’d like to share our secret of success and joy with you:

         Work made fun gets done! So that our people have fun, and the sound of laughter and enjoyment

               reverberates anywhere Kindilan staff can be found! As taken from a famous quote (source

               unknown), "We don't stop laughing because we get old; we get old because we stop laughing!"

               Kindilan embraces laughter and fun.

         We aim everyday to make someone’s day (or moment) through a small act of kindness or a

               memorable interaction. It’s our commitment to all our clients and to ourselves. It makes us all feel

               like better citizens and passes a warm fuzzy feeling around us all. It’s like passing on a smile or

               stopping before we go home to make sure all guests are comfortable and well settled into camp.

         The glue in humanity is in being fully present for one another. We commit to being fully there for

               others when asked, and no task is done half-heartedly. We take time for each and every

               individual who is around us.

         We amplify a positive attitude. The hang-ups are left outside the front gates!!! We remind

               ourselves everyday that we choose our attitude. Kindilan chooses a helpful, co-operative and

               positive attitude. With choosing our attitudes and responses to what life brings, we can look for

               the best and find opportunities we never imagined possible.

Our Values

This philosophy is underpinned by the following values, evident in the workplace and in the delivery of our services:

Respecting our doorsteps and our shared backyards

Pioneering spirituality (within self, social interaction and environment)

Empowering individuals to make choices

Self directed learning: a ‘coaching’ culture

Adventure: the uncertainty of outcomes

Challenge by choice

Risk management and safe practice

Partnering with clients

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Canoeing/Kayaking

Explore the large on-site lake at Kindilan in a canoe or kayak, or take a trip around the island and play games and paddling races. You will receive a safety brief and some paddling tips before going on your journey! Canoeing is a great way to demonstrate teamwork and communication between the two paddlers, with kayaking providing an individual challenge for many participants. Games and activities on the lake are determined by the experience of the group.

Kindilan's lake is fed by a natural creek line and spring. The water is tested every year and is near drinking quality. The lake is home to a wide range of flora, fauna and birdlife. We regularly sight swamp hens, water dragons, lace monitors, sea eagles and long necked turtles. We have also had sightings of platypus in the upper creek.

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Raft Building

Raft building is a lake based activity where the group is given a certain amount of equipment and they must design and construct a raft to support some of their team members. Equipment includes barrels and poles for older groups, or inner tubes and bamboo for younger groups, as well as a bucket of ropes. Participants must wear PFD's as they swim/paddle their craft out to the pontoon on the lake. There are no guaranteest the participants will stay dry!

Raft Building is a favourite amongst participants and is driven by group discussion and collaboration. In order for teams to achieve success they must show initiative in their design as well as teamwork in order to construct their raft efficiently.

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Abseiling

Participants are taught to abseil and take care of their safety on the ground before heading up to the abseil tower to complete their abseil. Kindilan has an abseil tower that provides 6m, 12m and 18m platforms. Longer sessions can incorporate a mix of lower and higher abseils. All abseilers are controlled by a safety rope back up that the instructor controls. The instructor to participant ratio never exceeds 1:3 on the platform. Remaining group members are supervised by a registered teacher (from the school group) or another adult at the base of the tower.

Abseiling pushes participants to step outside of their comfort zones and is an extremely rewarding experience. The role of the group is to offer support and encouragement for each other as they have their turn.

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Rock Climbing

Our 12m abseil tower also includes two rock climbing routes, with different coloured holds for different levels of challenge. This activity is a great physical challenge for participants to step outside of their comfort zone and set a goal for themselves. Each climber is supported by a team of ground belayers who manage their safety, thus incorporating the whole team. Instructors will belay for younger participants.

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Flying Fox

Participants fly across the sky attached to a pulley and cable on our flying fox medium ropes activity. The team is engaged in both the safety system as you climb the tree to the launch platform and to disembark at the other end of your flight path.

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Swing By Choice

An adrenaline high ropes activity that requires a team of haulers to help raise the participant into the air at their desired height (up to 13 metres). The participant then releases themselves from the haul system and enjoy a split-second freefall followed by an awesome swinging experience.

The Swing By Choice brings the team together as they pull each other into the air. The freefall experience makes for great discussion about challenging ourselves and trying new things without regret.

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Sugar Glider

This high ropes element is a great team building activity. The participant demonstrates trust in the team mates as they haul them into the air from the ground. As they launch they fly through the air like a sugar glider before being lowered safely back down to the ground.

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Continuous High Ropes Course

The Kindilan High Ropes course is a 5-element traverse through the trees. A sequence of individual challenges includes manouvering around giant buoys, balancing on logs and wires and completing a leap of faith at the end to be lowered down to the ground by their teammates. Participants are kept safe with static safety equipment whilst being supervised by a ground buddy who is also there to offer encouragement and advice.

Responsibility is a part of growing up, and the high ropes course is a great example of how being safe and responsible is vital in everyday life. Participants learn about their limits when it comes to heights and offers great discussion about 'comfort zones' and 'adventure zones'.

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Crate Climb

In teams of two or three the objective is to get as high above the ground as possible, using only crates and the support of your team members. The higher you get the harder it is to keep stable! Each climber is supported by a team of three ground belayers who manage their safety.

Crate Climb emphasises team innovation, strategy and communication amongst team members.

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Leap of Faith

The Leap of Faith is a straightforward but challenging activity. Participants must climb a tree and try to jump and reach an orange buoy that hangs high in the air and 2 metres out from the nearest platform. The challenge isn't so much about hitting the buoy but rather building the confidence to climb high into the air and take the leap of faith. We encourage all participants to achieve success and push themselves to step outside of their comfort zone. Peer support and personal challenge are a big part of this activity. This activity is for older groups and higher maturity levels.

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Dangle Duo/Trio

Imagine a giant ladder with 2.5m timber runs suspended on cables from two tall trees. The top is 15 metres off the ground. In teams of two or three you must ascend the ladder using each others' skills and support to get as high as you can. Each climber is supported by a team of three ground belayers who manage their safety.

The Dangle is suited to high school groups and those looking for a great physical challenge. It is mentally and physically challenging and demonstrates the importance of team work in achieving certain challenges.

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Heebie Jeebie

This high ropes element is a traditional style cable line between two trees about 5 metres in the air. With crossed and angled ropes to hang on to, participants challenge their perception of fear, their balance and mental limits whilst safely attached to a bottom belay.

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Orienteering

Using a map and sense of direction (sometimes with a compass), participants learn the necessary skills to complete an orienteering course. In small groups participants will search for orienteering markers and stamp their card for accuracy at each marker before returning to the instructor. Beginner, Intermediate and specialised (rogaining) courses are available depending on the age and skill level of the group.

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Low Ropes

Cables, logs and ropes run throughout the trees for participants to challenge themselves in different ways, approximately 40cm off the ground. This activity requires build up of trust through a series of trust exercises, as participants are not wearing harnesses and keep each other safe through 'spotting'.

The low ropes are always accompanied with an introductory session where the participants have to demonstrate a level of trust and spotting techniques before they proceed onto any low rope element.

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Archery

Test your accuracy with a bow and shoot for the bullseye! Through the guidance of our instructors, participants take turns to aim at colourful ring targets. The targets are placed close enough to meet the skill level of the group. Our archery is recommended for small groups and beginner archers. Ideal for primary school age.

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Initiatives

Kindilan offers a range of Initiatives and problem solving activities in each program. These activities help individuals to develop trust, group cohesion and effective behaviours that will contribute to optimal growth and program goal achievement.