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
Well done Eden Public School's Green Gang - another school with 0% contamination in their FOGO bins in today's 'Let's Get it Sorted' waste audit!!
We also welcomed the next round of the Green Gang - a group of keen Stage 2 students have joined the team to replace the Year 6 students going onto High School next year. It's great to see school's planning for another year of terrific waste sorting - awesome work teachers and students at Eden PS 🙂
Bega Valley Waste & Recycling
Sapphire Coast Learning Community of Public Schools
Environmental and Zoo Education Centres NSW
Always a pleasure working with staff and students at Pambula Public School
Shout out to the Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness for their long term loan of the fantastic microeye digital microscope 🔬🕷
Sapphire Coast Learning Community of Public Schools
#ComfortablyNumbat
Scientists: Hello! Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone at home?
Numbats: <nodding>
😂😂
Environmental and Zoo Education Centres NSW
#EZECNSW
AVOID WASTE!!
'Prevention is better than cure': Avoidance crucial to stopping waste problem piling up, report finds
www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-18/more-action-on-avoidance-needed-recycling-atse-report/12890982
www.abc.net.au
In less than two months, a ban on exporting Australia's waste is due to begin and researchers say attention needs to shift to avoid creating waste in the first place, not just recycling it.The Trash Smashers from Candelo Public School have recorded ZERO contamination in their FOGO bin in today's follow up waste audit, and only 2% contamination in their recycling bin!! And even better their landfill bin has gone from 40% to only 6% contamination - amazing work 🙂
The Trash Smashers have totally smashed it! Well done to all the students and teachers at Candelo Public School - really great achievement.
Bega Valley Waste & Recycling
Sapphire Coast Learning Community of Public Schools
Environmental and Zoo Education Centres NSW
HELPING OUR HOODIES!
The South Coast NSW Shorebird Recovery Newsletter (see link) is a great resource for everyone that wants to help these beautiful birds.
Recently students from Tathra Public School attended two "Helping our Hoodies" workshops at Bournda EEC, led by teacher Julie Donne. Shorebird Recovery Co-ordinator Sophie Hall-Aspland dropped in via Zoom to answer student questions and and brought a very nice friend who needs to be kept away from shorebirds and their nests!
The students then used iPads and Slow-mation software to create some short animated films. The film featured in the newsletter was made by some clever kids from Eden Public School in other workshops and we will share the Tathra PS efforts soon!
Thank you to all the teachers and parents who support students to attend these valuable workshops!
mailchi.mp/e17d082283df/threatened-shorebird-news-from-southern-nsw-november-2020
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
#ShareTheShore
#EZECNSW
Environmental and Zoo Education Centres NSW
NSW Department of Education
Australian Association for Environmental Education, NSW Chapter
Far South Coast Birdwatchers Inc.
GRATITUDE?
Helped this guy cross the road.
No gratitude. Just attitude.
Even stuck his tongue out at me.
Seriously though, encounters with nature make my day. Life IS an encounter with nature 😍😍🦎
