In 2025, Walford extended its Year 9 outdoor education experience to a unique eight-day expedition that is as much an internal voyage as it is an outdoor adventure. Far more than a typical school camp, this program is deliberately crafted as a rite of passage; an immersive blend of challenge, reflection, and community-building that equips girls to explore who they are, test their limits, and chart their own paths forward. Weaving together physical challenges, reflective practice, and community engagement, Walford’s Year 9 Her Journey recognises that each student arrives with her own strengths, hopes, and perspectives, and it provides the structure and support needed to turn those individual gifts into collective excellence.

Aligned with the spirit of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, and taking place in the rugged beauty of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, Walford’s Year 9 Her Journey camp experience transcends the ordinary. Each young woman is invited to connect, extend and challenge herself. She is supported throughout the eight days to build the transferable skills of resilience and leadership that will prepare her not only for senior schooling, but also for the wider challenges of adolescence, citizenship and success in pursuing her aspirations.

Her Journey is built on Walford’s School values of Courage, Commitment, Community and Growth. Girls are encouraged to leave the safety of their comfort zones and challenge themselves. Endurance activities and group tasks underscore the importance of persevering through discomfort, fostering resilience that will serve them long after tents are packed away. From team-based navigation exercises to a day of community service, participants learn that leadership often means supporting others, valuing diverse perspectives, and celebrating collective achievements. Journalling, gratitude practice and group reflections develop awareness of self and others.

Perhaps the most defining moment of Her Journey is the solo overnight experience, during which each girl spends a night alone in nature. Supported by a structured reflection template, students confront solitude, cultivate self-belief, and write letters of self-compassion that lay the groundwork for lifelong self-awareness. This powerful exercise in autonomy and mindfulness reiterates the camp’s commitment to internal transformation as much as physical challenge.

What elevates Her Journey beyond a conventional outdoor program is its intentional framing as a pivotal moment in each girl’s maturation. Her Journey is more than a camp. It is a significant rite of passage and an opportunity to pause, reflect, and connect deeply with herself and others.

In an educational landscape often dominated by academic metrics, this extended outdoor experience stands out for its commitment to whole-person education. It challenges girls to look inward and outward, building the self-awareness and interpersonal competence that underpin lasting success. For Walford Year 9 students, the camp is not just a break from routine—it’s a transformative expedition that shapes character, ignites ambition, and forges bonds that will endure well beyond the final pack-up. Our inaugural Her Journey participants have returned to Adelaide with red dust on their boots, journals filled with insight, and newfound courage and connection. They offered the following reflections:

For me, my challenges during camp became my highlights. At first, I was apprehensive about climbing mount Arden, rock climbing and abseiling. I was nervous, at some points I wanted to quit. But I didn't, I faced my fears, and once out of my comfort zone, i really enjoyed those tasks. I climbed mount Arden, got close to the top rock climbing, and I abseiled down a cliff. It was a very memorable experience. - Lily

One of the best moments on camp was when my class hiked all the way to the top of Mount Arden. The views from the top of the mountain made the entire hike worthwhile. Although hiking was challenging, and challenged everyone’s ability physically and mentally, I was able to create new friendships and chat with all my friends, which made the journey even more enjoyable!  - Lara

Her Journey is a powerful, purpose-driven rite of passage that prepares Walford girls not only to face the future, but to shape it.