Stage 2 programs

Public School Camping Costs (273KB)

Camping with Dorroughby EEC

Location: Dorroughby EEC

Schools can book to bring 1 class to an affordable, curriculum-based camp at Dorroughby, choosing 2-3 of the following programs to run over the course of 2-3 days.

If you are unsure which programs to choose - ring the centre and speak to DEEC staff who can create a few draft itineraries for you to choose from.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Coastal Studies

Location: Offsite at Flat Rock, Ballina

Students visit Flat Rock in Ballina to investigate the tides and examine the rock platforms. Students learn about our amazing migratory birds and use binoculars to identify species. We discuss actions we can take to be marine custodians and conduct a marine debris clean up.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; and K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Who Loves Invertebrates?

Location: Dorroughby EEC or incursion

Students focus on terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates and their roles in Earth's ecosystems. They learn about the wonderful platypodes and then visit the nearby dam with binoculars to observe these amazing monotremes.  Here we use scientific enquiry methods to conduct water quality testing; identifying macroinvertebrates and using this data to assess the water quality. Students will study invertebrates under the microscope and make a stop motion production on iPads to consolidate the day's learning.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE and K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Dorrough Bugs

Location: Dorroughby EEC

Students become an entomologist for a day and find out why bugs are important using an interactive story threads concept. Immerse students in role play that begins before they arrive with an invitation to an entomologists' conference. Catch and classify bugs in the field and view them under our microscopes. Students are then asked to provide constructed arguments for conserving bugs in our environment  and use these in a drama role with a villain that is determined to destroy all the bugs in Dorroughby.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Sustainable Living

Location: Dorroughby EEC or an Incursion (1-2 days)

Students investigate the impact of climate change and conduct water, waste, biodiversity and energy audits. The day culminates with either a carbon footprint activity or a designing a sustainable house. Extension activity: Energy trailer activities or food kms workshop-creating their own environmentally responsible pizza.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Cat on the Island

Location: Dorroughby EEC or an Incursion

Using as stimulus the book Cat on the Island (Author - Gary Drew; Illustrator - Gillian Warden) students explore human impact on the small NZ island, Stephens Island.  Students discuss environmental literacy and the story from a conservation point of view.  Students then decide on which key  points of the book to dramatise, create a script based on the conservation messages of the book, create props, and present/film the play.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Time and Change

Location: Dorroughby EEC

The emphasis of this day is on the 1870s-the way of life of the Cedar Getters and their families; how this changed the Bundjalung Nation's lives and the impact it had on Country. Students will be taken back to a bygone era to take part in activities like colonial games, butter-making, role play, old schoolhouse etc.

Colonial games can be replaced by an archaeological dig where students examine artefacts, take part in an actual dig and draw conclusions of historical ways of life through analysis of finds.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Soil Rocks

Location: Dorroughby EEC or as an Incursion

Students learn about the origins, properties of, and functions of the soil beneath our feet. They learn methods of classifying soil types and take part in a scientific investigation focusing on erosion. They create a soil crayon and use this and soil watercolours to create art.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Guardians of the Squirrel Glider

Location: Incursion ONLY

Students learn about the Squirrel Gliders - their habitats; diet; predators; prey; and how we can, and why we should be, guardians to all native animals. Student take part in a Biodiversity Audit of their school grounds, and learn about nest boxes. Students then develop a student led action plan based on the learning that has taken place.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Let's Investigate H20

Location: Dorroughby EEC (water lab)

Students spend the day exploring the properties of water, its importance to all living creatures, and how to care for our waterways. Students investigate water quality through scientific processes at the local dam, take part in student-led authentic investigations with sophisticated equipment in the Dorroughby EEC Water Lab and create a filter to solve a water pollution problem.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

National Parks - Waterfalls and Forests

Location: Minyon - Night Cap National Park

Students become a ranger for a day and learn about managing one our World Heritage National Parks - Night Cap National Park. Students learn about how the area was formed; investigate plants and animals using field guides and binoculars; participate in a scats and tracks survey; and enjoy a bush walk to discover the Parks' natural beauties, including the magnificent Minyon (Waterfall).

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Our Ancient Land

Location: Dorroughby EEC - small groups only

Students learn about local Bundjalung culture through culturally appropriate use of yarning circles, artefacts, bush tucker plant walk. The day culminates in creating and eating a meal using bush tucker ingredients.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

School Environmental Workshop

Location: Incursion

Students take part in a stand alone Environmental workshop - outlining the causes and effects of greenhouse gases on our Earth and the basis of Climate Change. Energy, Water, Biodiversity and Waste audits are conducted within the school grounds and then students can create of a School Environmental Management Plan specific to the school's identified need for action, make a carbon reduction pledge, or design a sustainable house.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Kids verses Wild

Location: Rocky Creek Dam

Students investigate what humans need to survive, how to take care of themselves in the bush etc. Students create an iPad movie on bush survival. In teams students use a map to navigate their way across country. Emphasis on Bundjalung use of plants for medicine, food and tools; and building teamwork and leadership skills.

(This day is often used as Day 1 of a camp)

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Mindfulness & Wellbeing in Nature

Location: Incursion, Dorroughby EEC or offsite e.g. Rocky Creek Dam.

This program explores our connection to nature through mindfulness with guided activities that connect us to nature and regenerate our minds. Students will go on a mindfulness journey in the forest, learn the processes of nature journaling, techniques for well being, and how to be as calm, grounded and resilient as trees.  Drumming for wellbeing can be included.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Buzzy Bees

Location: Incursion or Dorroughby EEC

Get busy with bees, with a focus on native Australian bees. Investigate bee activity and habitat outside; learn about the fabulous diversity of bees, their biology and connections with humans; look at bee products  and create a pollinator patch or bee hotel.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Exploring Rocky Creek Dam - Geography

Location: Rocky Creek Dam

Students take part in the Platypus walk - learning about RCD past and present- with a strong focus on the Widjabul Wiabul uses of plants for food, medicine and shelter.  Students investigate maps and compasses to position themselves in the world.  Students investigate the site using their senses and play games that strengthen knowledge of endangered, endemic animals and positive actions they can take as custodians.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; K-6 Creative Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Water and Weather

Location: Dorroughby EEC

Students work  Scientifically  in with various  experiments highlighting the properties of water and Earth's weather. Hand's on day with authentic learning! The students learn about water pollution via investigating the 3-D catchment model (if available) or Danny the Drip activity, tracking our water supply from the sky to our taps. Students learn about the catchment, water cycle, aspects of weather and participate in a giant bubble making activity.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Give Trees a Chance

Location: Dorroughby EEC or incursion

Students learn about forest dynamics - measure carbon sequestration - beat a leaf- learn about endangered plants and the Big scrub - propagate a Richmond Birdwing Butterfly vine from a cutting.  Nature journaling or botanical illustrations optional.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Science/Technology; K-6 HSIE; K-6 Maths

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.

Art in Nature Days

Location: Incursion, Dorroughby EEC or offsite e.g. Rocky Creek Dam.

Students learn different artistic techniques with a nature theme. Choose your location and activities from a range of of artistic techniques - such as photography, print making, nature journaling, botanical illustrations, drama, nature mandalas, djembe drumming etc.

Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Visual Arts.

Cross curriculum subjects of Sustainable Education and Aboriginal Education are also a focus on the day.