Things have been happening at Bournda EEC – we have new landscaping!
Have a look at the before & after photos. Watch this space for more improvements to come…
Bournda Environmental Education Centre
Student wellbeing comes naturally at Bournda!
Bournda EEC is operated by the Department of Education and is located in Bournda National Park on the Far South Coast of NSW; an ideal setting for the delivery of environmental education programs.
The staff at Bournda EEC assist teachers to plan and conduct field trips for students from Kindergarten – Year 12, which are designed to specifically target KLA outcomes.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TO OUR NEW LEARN-SCAPED GARDEN
In 2018 Bournda EEC coordinated the Sapphire Coast Regional Science Hub Sustainability Education Network (SCRSHSEN) involvement in a AAEE NSW Best Practice Sustainability Education and Engagement project, Birds of a Feather. The citizen science project involved multiple partners working to enhance the environment of local birds in schools by installing bird baths and monitoring their use with motion sensor cameras.
The project worked so well that we decided that we better practice what we preach and have our own bird bath and camera installation at Bournda Environmental Education Centre in Bournda National Park. The birdbath was heavily used during the drought with an astonishing range of “visitors” and staff were kept busy making sure it was regularly replenished. The site needed some additional habitat and erosion control so Bournda EEC School Administrative Manager, Rose Constable came up with a design that provided lots of microhabitats, improved drainage and minimal water use. The habitat “learn-scape” was approved by NPWS Merimbula and brought to life by Proscape Garden Construction. Grant Brewer, NPWS Bournda Ranger helped us through the approval process and gave advice on suitable plants. A big thank you to Bruce Toomey, from NPWS who assisted with the due diligence requirements for Aboriginal artefacts. There are now three birds baths and we’ve got lots of ideas for sustainability activities in this space for our young visitors!
NSW Department of Education Covid -19 Information Hub
https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
Learning from home Hub on the Department’s website provides information & resources for teachers and parents to support students learning from home P -12.
The Department of Education, Term 3, COVID-19 guidelines for schools highlight that Bournda EEC programs in-school and at Bournda EEC are allowed.
Activities that have recommenced in our schools
- All curricular and extra-curricular programs or services delivered by NSW Department of Education staff including targeted school support programs delivered by School Services, itinerant support staff and other department employees
- ….and day field trips to outdoor locations that require minimal physical distancing considerations (e.g. DoE Environmental Education Centres and sport and recreation facilities, trips to local river to collect water samples)
Resource: Multi-Touch Books
Download these free multi-touch iBooks from the iBooks Store onto your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Exploring and Mapping our Living World and Saving our Shorebirds have been created by Bournda EEC to help students explore the natural world around them, inspiring curiosity and a sense of wonder for all living things. The books are designed for primary students and are full of interactive diagrams, photos and videos. Find out about our local endangered shorebirds and how we can all help them to survive. Discover why biodiversity is so important and how teachers and students can play their role as citizen scientists mapping biodiversity in the schoolyard.
What’s been happening?
Students from five local schools have been working with Bournda Environmental Education Centre on a Bega Valley Shire Council funded program called ‘Let’s get it Sorted’. The program helps students to re-think what they call ‘waste’ and empowers them to be the change makers at their school. The aim of the program is to reduce the amount of waste that schools send to landfill and to help educate school communities about the issues surrounding waste and its management. Click here to find out more about this program and here to register your interest for 2020 / 2021.
A forest’s bushfire recovery
Life in a Southern Forest https://southernforestlife.net/ is an extraordinary resource for any teachers that are looking to explore the recovery of our forests after the recent bushfires. Follow biologists Kerri-Lee and Paul as they report on observations, sightings and discoveries on their 5 ha property at Wonboyn, both before and after the January 5 fires. The photographs and detailed reporting are an extremely valuable resource and their work is an inspiration to follow.
Facebook posts
ORIENTEELING?
This group of Eden Marine High students were participating in the Character Strengths Geocache activity, during the Bega Valley CDAT Leaders Challenge Day when they spotted something unusual!
They called it in on the UHF radio and the conversation went something like this.
Students: This is Group 3 calling Doug
Me: Doug receiving. Over
Students: We are near the road and there’s an eel in the grass. Over.
Me: An eel? Aren’t you near the road? Are you sure it’s not a snake? Over.
Students: It’s definitely an eel. Over.
Me: Stand by. I’ll come and check it out. Over.
Students: Copy that.
It was an eel! Read all about their fascinating movements, including on land, here
www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2004/05/06/2044390.htm
Eden Magnet
VOCAL ROWING!!
Enjoy the sounds of some enthusiastic Yr 9 Bega High School students putting the Bournda surfboat through its paces, on Wallagoot Lake at the Bega Valley CDAT Leaders Challenge Day at Bournda.
The day was sponsored by the Bega CDAT and Alcohol and Drug Foundation to support student wellbeing and resilience. As well as the surfboat students participated in geocaching, bike riding and ropes. Big thanks to Tracey Gibbons for organising the students.
One student commented in the evaluation “Thank you so much for the amazing day most of us needed 😊”
#EZECNSW
Sapphire Coast Learning Community of Public Schools 🚣
NSW Department of Education 🚣
ABC South East NSW 🚣 Bega District News 🚣🏿
Bermagui Public School K-1 NEST BOX BUILDERS
Last Thursday, during #nationalbirdweek these wonderful Bermagui PS students built nest boxes with help from Bournda staff. The students showed great skills and focus for the entire session.
“Retired” Bournda EEC teacher and Bermi resident, Ross Fackerell did a HUGE amount of work creating the flat packs that the students assembled. Thank you Ross!!
The boxes, designed for eastern rosellas will be painted and installed at the school and in fire affected locations.
Thank you to teacher Julie Kirby for her organisation and letting us work with her fabulous class!
#birdsneedhomes
NSW Department of Education 🦅 Environmental and Zoo Education Centres NSW 🦉 Australian Association for Environmental Education, NSW Chapter 🦆 Sapphire Coast Learning Community of Public Schools 🐧 Far South Coast Birdwatchers Inc. 🐥 ABC South East NSW 🦆 Bega District News 🦉
3D-printed tree hollows provide haven for animals left homeless by bushfires
www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-27/3d-printed-plastic-hollows-for-threatened-australian-species/12812606
3D-printed tree hollows provide haven for animals left homeless by bushfires
www.abc.net.au
Hundreds of species rely upon hollows to start a family, but trees are in short supply after fires decimated entire areas of habitat. Now researchers hope a little plastic box might help.Masked lapwing nest 🐣
Wallagoot Lane - literally ON the lane!
Far South Coast Birdwatchers Inc.
Team working on 'most magical story in science' win PM's top science prize
www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-10-28/prime-ministers-prize-awarded-to-gravitational-wave-scient...
Team working on 'most magical story in science' win PM's top science prize
www.abc.net.au
For the first time, Australia's top science prize has been awarded to four scientists, including a female physicist, for their pioneering work in the discovery of gravitational waves that opened up a new window to the universe.IT’S ON!!
You can’t call off a Leaders Challenge Day because of a few puddles and a bit of rain!!
The winds are light, the temperature not too cold and conditions are right for students from Eden Marine High (today) and Bega High School (Thursday) to join in a Covid-safe, physical,fun day out and about in Bournda National Park!
Sponsored by the Bega Valley CDAT and the Alcohol and Drug Foundation to promote wellbeing, resilience and healthy activities connecting with nature.
Bring a raincoat! ☔️
NSW Department of Education 🚴♂️ Environmental and Zoo Education Centres NSW 🧗🏽♂️ ABC South East NSW 🚣 Bega District News 🏃♀️
DUX OF 2020 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆
Outstanding effort by the Bega Valley Public School team supported by Ms McVeity! The gift voucher was donated to Bournda EEC by BIG W as part of their bushfire assistance program.
BVPS join previous winners Tanja Public School (2017), Cobargo Public School (2018), Wolumla Public School (2019)
It was a very close competition with the Lisa Freedman Perpetual Trophy for Best Individual Bird Call being awarded to Lilli Talbot of Wolumla Public School for her outstanding kookaburra!
Congratulations to all the wonderful students who participated from BVPS, Tanja PS, Pambula Public School , Tathra Public School , Wolumla PS
#EZECNSW 🦅 Environmental and Zoo Education Centres NSW 🦉 NSW Department of Education 🦆 Australian Association for Environmental Education, NSW Chapter 🐥 Sustainable Schools NSW 🦅 Merimbula Old School Museum 🦉 Far South Coast Birdwatchers Inc. 🦆 Panboola 🐧 ABC South East NSW 🦆 Bega District News 🐥 Sapphire Coast Learning Community of Public SchoolsBIRD OLYMPICS WINNERS
BVPS are the proud recipients of the Jack Lynch Memorial Shield for the 2020 Bird Olympics.
Today they were presented with the trophy from Mr Doug Reckord of BEEC.
Other prizes were also awarded to the school, which were a bird book and jigsaw puzzle for the library and a $50 voucher to go towards a bird bath for the school playground.
The 'Let's Get it Sorted' waste team at Wyndham Public School have found a great way to deal with their school's food scraps. They currently have 31 eggs incubating and a chook pen that is almost ready to house the chickens when they hatch. The Wyndham Waste Warriors think that feeding chickens rather than landfill is the way to go! Great work Wyndham Public School 🙂
Bega Valley Waste & Recycling
Sapphire Coast Learning Community of Public Schools
Environmental and Zoo Education Centres NSW
