Aerie Residential College on Murray

Understanding the Challenge for Teens

Many teenagers today face significant challenges that can derail their education and well-being. They might struggle with a lack of interest in traditional high school subjects, feel unsafe due to bullying or gang activity, or experience difficult home lives. These pressures can lead to depression, self-harm, or even suicidal thoughts.

Some teens join the wrong crowd, leading to trouble, while others simply find the limited subject choices in large high schools unengaging. Some teens join the wrong crowd, leading to trouble, while others simply find the limited subject choices in large high schools unengaging. The traditional fear-based discipline, often absent now, leaves little incentive for performance when interest is low.

Large high schools, with their high dropout rates (24% last year, before age 17), often struggle to meet these diverse needs. Parents are legally obligated to keep their children in school until age 17 under child protection laws, meaning an early departure puts parents in breach of the law. While the government offers "locked cage" solutions for "really bad kids," Aerie College believes there's a better path. We also teach childcare skills, acknowledging that parents sometimes need support too. Parents cannot change large high schools, but they can change their child's school.

Changing environments is often the best option. Aerie Residential Adventure College offers a safe, alternative learning pathway designed to put these young people on a positive, new trajectory. As a registered school, Aerie provides a unique form of "home schooling" through Adventure Challenge learning. Our program starts with a teacher-guided escape, with students living full-time on a remote River Murray houseboat cruise – their home for the next two years. Here, we teach our "young eagles" to thrive away from urban distractions and the pressures of large schools.

• Residential & Immersive: Students live as a full-time backpacker team in a riverboat-based setting at our resort. Each small team of 16 boys and girls shares a houseboat, which serves as both residence and classroom, guided by "2 Care Teachers." This combines the best of family living with a familiar primary school classroom environment.
• Physical & Mental Well-being: We use double kayaking daily for exercise, fostering strong partnerships, quiet reflection, and a shift in thinking.
• Life Skills & Relationships: We emphasize building safe partnerships, teamwork, and strong, long-lasting friendships – essential people skills. We also address important life discussions early, including responsible relationships and parenting. We welcome young couples or single mothers with a child, providing support and integrating childcare services into our curriculum. The baby becomes part of a large, supportive "family" with many "uncles and aunties."
• Conflict Resolution: For families experiencing conflict, Aerie provides a different home for a couple of years or more, helping to defuse tensions. Parents are welcome to share holiday resort time and cruise with the boats.
• Low-Cost Living: Students experience a low-cost, minimalist "swag backpacker" living style, free from unnecessary baggage.
• Controlled & Safe Environment: New entrants undergo a Principal's interview to ensure a good fit within our controlled group.

Our enrolment begins with a "Come and Try" decision program during the first term. Students join our college river school-ship "Aerie" for a "time out" cruise from our marina near Mannum to Renmark and back, with daily double kayaking. This term is specifically designed to clear their minds of old thinking and embrace new, positive perspectives. Following this initial term, a "Stay or Leave" decision is made in discussion with College staff and parents, determining if Aerie's learning style will truly benefit their child.

Teens can learn from the Lifestyle of the White Breasted Sea Eagle, Our mascot.. 

Aerie's Residential Learning Model

Once a student decides to stay at Aerie after their "Come and Try" term, they fully immerse themselves in our unique residential program. New students live in large houseboats, forming a team of 16, guided by a resident teacher and aid. These houseboats serve as both their residence and primary classroom, based at our College marina resort. While most "Home learning" occurs on the boats, practical subjects utilise the resort's dedicated facilities. As students develop essential close-living skills, they'll have the opportunity to transition to a fleet of smaller family boats. These fleets stay together under the supervision of a fleet master teacher, ensuring continuous guidance. All student residential boats are under the direct supervision of Aerie teachers.

At Aerie, we offer a different form of "Home Schooling." The houseboat becomes their "Aerie" (nest), and the two resident teachers act as key parental figures. Our program fosters strong, respectful friendships and a supportive environment, focusing on personal growth and adventure learning. While we discuss healthy relationships, we clearly set boundaries regarding intimate relationships during their time with us. For families with their own river boats, these can be incorporated into the flotilla, allowing a team of 16 students to live and learn together under teacher supervision, whether moored or cruising.

Aerie offers a comprehensive SACE study program, covering essential subjects alongside a selection of interest-based choices. This flexible approach allows students to complete their SACE Certificate at their own pace, understanding that it's a journey, not just a two-year race. The SACE provides a recognised goal, offering critical focus during these formative "fledgling years," which can otherwise be challenging. We believe that large, traditional schools are often not the best environment for fostering positive team dynamics and healthy relationships. If a student's prior school experience has been negative, changing schools is often their best option.

Our teaching philosophy is rooted in guiding these "wild young birds" safely through their SACE years. We embrace adventure and close-knit, family-style living as our core lifestyle. While we encourage freedom for brilliance to emerge, we are also equipped to manage the challenges and potential "chaos" that can arise within a team, much like managing a "wild cat" on a houseboat – they don't like to swim!

Aerie students are full-time residents on our river "school-ships." Each school ship hosts a group of 16 teens and 2 teachers, embarking on cruises along the Murray River in South Australia. These school-ships provide a complete change of scenery, offering a remote, distraction-free environment essential for unhappy teens to "reboot their brain" and embrace new perspectives. Each vessel is equipped with a fleet of double kayaks, used daily for exercise and team-building. Those who choose to stay with Aerie after their initial term continue their adventure learning, actively crewing the boats and engaging in our vibrant community. Students will achieve their SACE with Aerie and can also pursue VET certificates to further their qualifications. For ongoing support, we offer continued community residential support at our Berri campus for students attending Berri TAFE.

We strongly welcome family participation in all our activities, however, we kindly request non-interference with the professional work of our dedicated teachers.

Our unique riverfront, private marinas at Mannum and Berri serve as both Community Clubs and residential senior high school campuses. These properties have a long history of educational use. Classrooms are located both at the resort facilities and on the riverboats, ensuring a varied learning environment. Students remain together as a team for all learning activities. Some college staff and senior students reside on campus or on their boats within the marina. Resort staff may also live on their boats. We welcome family boats in the marina if they are used as student residences, and Aerie College training boats receive priority mooring. 

All community members must comply with stringent child safety requirements. Aerie's private resorts maintain strict entry policies to ensure the safety of our students. We only admit Community Club members, their invited guests, Aerie College students, and hosted school camps. This is a fundamental child protection requirement for the College.

Our Resort facilities include:

• Camping spaces for tents and caravans
• Dedicated school tent camping spaces with catering assistance
• Kayak instructor support and a fleet of kayaks for hire
• Member trailer boat storage and a boat ramp
• Moored member boat berths, with priority for College boats.