Stage 3 programs
Dorroughby Environmental Education Centre offers Stage 3 educational programs that can be run at different locations - at the centre; as an incursion (at your school); or at an alternative offsite location. This is specified in the details of each program below.
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 - 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.
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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. For smaller groups, 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.
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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.
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.
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.
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; 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.
Maths in Nature
Location: Incursion or Dorroughby EEC
Students take part in maths based activities in nature. Students learn about symmetry in nature - how much carbon can a tree store - teach fractions with natural objects - work out how tall a tree is using clinometers.
Syllabus outcomes align with current NSW curriculum - K-6 Mathematics.
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.
Marvellous Microbes
Location: Incursion that happens in 2 half days 1-2 weeks apart.
Students learn about micro-organisms and their role in the ecosystem. They swab designated parts of the school following scientific processes. On the return visit students examine what the swabs have grown on petri dishes under microscopes, documents and analyse the results.
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.
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 activities from a plethora of
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.
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About our centre
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