Mansfield courier
Mansfield Steiner School heads to the mountains

Mansfield Steiner School has developed a comprehensive snow program that runs across multiple year levels and locations.

Cross-country skiing takes center stage at Mt Stirling across four transformative weeks.

Classes one and two ventured beneath towering Mountain Ash trees, their excitement palpable despite wet conditions that required an early retreat.

Classes three and four focused on fundamental techniques on the practice slopes, mastering the essential "pizza slice" stop, turns, knee bends and recovery skills while learning to navigate natural obstacles like fallen trees across trails.

By classes five and six, students demonstrate sophisticated cross-country abilities, confidently exploring scenic routes like the Lyrebird Trail, where they can truly appreciate the mountain environment they've learned to navigate.

The year seven and eight Mt Buller camp was a huge success, with students enjoying excellent snow conditions at Spark Lodge.

Everyone chose between skiing and snowboarding, with daily lessons and full access to the mountain.

After a full day on the slopes, tired staff asked who might be interested in night skiing - and 31 out of 33 students eagerly put up their hands.

The program's biggest challenge comes with year nine students, who spend four days at the Bogong High Plains snow camp.

Setting up camp and skiing in alpine conditions tests their skills, but this year's group was fortunate with the weather.

They experienced everything from fresh snowfall to brilliant clear days, building both their technical abilities and confidence in the mountain environment.

Still to come is class six's overnight trip to Mt Stirling, where students will continue developing their mountain skills and love for the snow providing a taste of things to come in the secondary school.