Ideal Year: Year 4
Delivery: Day Program
Curriculum Focus: HASS, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, Sustainability

Program Overview

Day on Country provides students with an opportunity to experience First Nations ways of knowing, being and doing through hands-on engagement with Country. Through cultural practices, storytelling, seasonal knowledge, traditional technologies and collaborative experiences, students develop a deeper appreciation of the enduring connections between people, culture and place.

Key Understandings

• Country is more than a place; it is connected to identity, culture and community.
• First Nations peoples have developed deep knowledge of the environment over thousands of years.
• Seasonal indicators help people understand and respond to changes in the environment.
• Traditional technologies and practices demonstrate sustainable ways of living with Country.
• Caring for Country is a shared responsibility.

Australian Curriculum v9 Alignment

Year 4 HASS

• Explain the importance of Country/Place to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples who belong to a local area (AC9HS4K04).
• Describe the importance of environments, including natural vegetation and water sources, to people and animals in Australia and on another continent (AC9HS4K05).

Cross-Curriculum Priority

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

• Country/Place
• Culture
• People

General Capabilities

• Intercultural Understanding
• Personal and Social Capability
• Ethical Understanding
• Critical and Creative Thinking

Program Experiences

Fire & Yarning: Explore stories, cultural knowledge, bush foods and traditional practices while gathering together around the fire.

Gunya Building & Traditional Technologies: Investigate how natural materials can be used to build a gunyah (shelter) while exploring traditional technologies, resource use and ways of living with Country.

First Nations Games: Experience traditional games that develop teamwork, cooperation and practical skills while exploring learning through play and community connection.

Sample Program Schedule

Details, timings and activity sequences vary depending on conditions and group size.

Ideal Year: Year 4
Delivery: Day Program
Curriculum Focus: Science, HASS, Sustainability

Program Overview

Sustainability & Ecology helps students investigate how living things, natural systems and people are interconnected. Through hands-on ecological investigations, students explore food chains, soil systems, biodiversity and sustainability while developing an understanding of how individual and collective actions can influence the health of ecosystems.

Key Understandings

• Ecosystems are made up of interconnected living and non-living components.
• Healthy environments support healthy communities.
• Soil plays an important role in sustaining life.
• Human actions can positively and negatively affect ecosystems.
• Sustainable choices can help protect the environment.

Australian Curriculum v9 Alignment

Year 4 Science

• Explain the roles and interactions of consumers, producers and decomposers within a habitat and how food chains represent feeding relationships (AC9S4U01).
• Identify sources of water and describe key processes in the water cycle, including movement of water through the sky, landscape and ocean; precipitation, evaporation and condensation (AC9S4U02).

Year 4 HASS

• The importance of environments, including natural vegetation and water sources, to people and animals in Australia and on another continent (AC9HS4K05).

Cross-Curriculum Priority

Sustainability

• Systems
• World Views
• Futures

General Capabilities

• Critical and Creative Thinking
• Personal and Social Capability
• Ethical Understanding

Program Experiences

Sustainability Challenge: Explore how energy, water, biodiversity, waste and community are connected and investigate actions that support a more sustainable future.

Soil Life: Investigate the hidden world beneath our feet and discover how decomposers support healthy ecosystems and food chains.

First Nations Ecological Knowledge: Explore how observation of plants, animals and environmental patterns supports sustainable relationships with Country.

Ecology Investigation: Examine the relationships between living things and their environment while investigating how ecosystems function and change.

Sample Program Schedule

Details, timings and activities vary depending on conditions and group size.

Ideal Year: Years 5-6
Delivery: Day Program
Curriculum Focus: Health & Physical Education, Personal and Social Capability

Program Overview

Leadership helps students develop confidence, resilience and teamwork through challenge-based learning. Working with and supporting others, students explore the qualities of effective leadership while strengthening connections to themselves, their peers and the environment.

Key Understandings

• Effective leaders understand themselves and others.
• Leadership involves communication, responsibility and service.
• Challenges provide opportunities for growth.
• Successful teams rely on trust, cooperation and respect.
• Everyone has the capacity to contribute positively to their community.

Australian Curriculum v9 Alignment

Years 5-6 Health and Physical Education

• Practise skills to establish and manage respectful relationships (AC9HP6P04).
• Investigate how emotional responses vary and understand how to interact positively with others (AC9HP6P03).
• Practise strategies to seek, give or deny consent respectfully (AC9HP6P07).
• Participate in physical activities that enhance health and wellbeing in natural and outdoor settings (AC9HP6M05).

General Capabilities

• Personal and Social Capability
• Critical and Creative Thinking
• Ethical Understanding

Program Experiences

Team Building Challenges: Work collaboratively to solve problems, strengthen communication skills and build trust within a team.

Blindfold Trail: Develop confidence, resilience and awareness while working together to navigate challenges in a natural environment.

Canoeing: Build teamwork, decision-making and leadership through shared experiences on the water.

Pole Climb: Climb a 10m high pole. Challenge comfort zones, develop self-belief and practise supporting others through individual and group challenges.

Leadership Reflection: Reflect on personal strengths, leadership qualities and the ways individuals can contribute positively to their school community.

Sample Program Schedule

Details, timings and activities vary depending on conditions, learning goals, weather and group size.

Ideal Year: Year 8
Delivery: Day Program
Curriculum Focus: Geography

Program Overview

Coastal Processes provides students with an opportunity to investigate the dynamic interactions between natural coastal systems and human activity. Through fieldwork at Burleigh Heads National Park and Tallebudgera Creek, students explore how coastal environments are shaped, managed and valued while developing geographical inquiry and fieldwork skills.

Key Understandings

• Coastal environments are constantly changing.
• Natural processes shape coastlines over time.
• Human activities can influence coastal systems.
• Management strategies are used to protect coastal environments.
• Fieldwork helps us understand and evaluate environmental change.

Australian Curriculum v9 Alignment

Year 8 Geography

• Analyse the processes that influence the characteristics and distribution of landscapes (AC9HG8K01).
• Analyse how environmental and human processes influence the characteristics of places and environments (AC9HG8K02).

General Capabilities

• Critical and Creative Thinking
• Personal and Social Capability
• Ethical Understanding

Cross-Curriculum Priority

Sustainability

• Systems
• World Views
• Futures

Program Experiences

Tallebudgera Creek Investigation: Investigate coastal processes and examine how water movement influences coastal environments.

Dune System Observations: Explore the role dunes play in protecting coastlines and supporting coastal ecosystems.

Burleigh Headland Walk: Observe natural and human influences on coastal landscapes through guided fieldwork.

Coastal Landform Studies: Investigate the formation and characteristics of coastal landforms.

Human Impact and Management Investigations: Evaluate how human activity influences coastal systems and explore management responses.

Geographical Fieldwork: Collect and interpret primary data using geographical inquiry skills and fieldwork techniques.

Sample Program Schedule

Details, timings and activities vary depending on conditions and group size.

Ideal Year: Year 9
Delivery: Day Program
Curriculum Focus: Geography

Program Overview

Biomes & Food Security explores how climate, vegetation, soils and land management influence the distribution and productivity of ecosystems. Through field investigations across a range of forest environments, students examine the characteristics of different biomes, investigate human interactions with natural systems and consider the challenges of balancing environmental sustainability with future food production.

Key Understandings

• Biomes are shaped by climate and environmental conditions.
• Different ecosystems support different plant and animal communities.
• Human activities can influence the health and sustainability of environments.
• Sustainable land management is essential for future food security.
• Environmental decision-making requires consideration of both ecological and social factors.

Australian Curriculum v9 Alignment

Year 9 Geography

• Explain the distributions and characteristics of biomes as regions with distinctive climates, soils, vegetation and productivity (AC9HG9K01).
• Analyse the interconnections between food production and food security at local, national and global scales (AC9HG9K02).
• Analyse the impacts of human activity and environmental change on biomes (AC9HG9K03).

General Capabilities

• Critical and Creative Thinking
• Personal and Social Capability
• Ethical Understanding

Cross-Curriculum Priority

Sustainability

• Systems
• World Views
• Futures

Program Experiences

Dry Sclerophyll Forest Investigation: Examine the characteristics of dry forest ecosystems and investigate how climate and vegetation influence biome distribution.

Wet Sclerophyll Forest Investigation: Compare forest communities and investigate the environmental factors that shape biodiversity and productivity.

Rainforest Ecosystem Study: Explore the structure and function of rainforest ecosystems and investigate relationships between climate, vegetation and habitat.

Ecotourism and Conservation Case Study: Evaluate how environmental management balances conservation, recreation and economic activity.

Abiotic Data Collection: Collect and analyse environmental data including temperature, light, moisture and other factors influencing ecosystem function.

Environmental Assessment and Evaluation: Investigate ecosystem health and consider how environments can be managed sustainably into the future.

Sample Program Schedule

Details, timings and activities vary depending on conditions and group size.

Ideal Year: Year 10
Delivery: Day Program
Curriculum Focus: Geography

Program Overview

Environmental Change & Management provides students with the opportunity to investigate the health of a real catchment through authentic geographical fieldwork. By examining waterways, riparian vegetation, water quality and human impacts, students develop an understanding of how environments change over time and how management strategies can be used to protect and restore natural systems.

Key Understandings

• Catchments are interconnected environmental systems.
• Human activities influence the health of waterways and ecosystems.
• Environmental management relies on evidence collected through fieldwork.
• Healthy waterways support healthy communities and environments.
• Restoration and conservation require long-term planning and action.

Australian Curriculum v9 Alignment

Year 10 Geography

• Explain how the interaction of environmental processes and human activity causes environmental change (AC9HG10K01).
• Analyse strategies used to manage environmental change and evaluate their environmental, economic and social implications (AC9HG10K02).

General Capabilities

• Critical and Creative Thinking
• Personal and Social Capability
• Ethical Understanding

Cross-Curriculum Priority

Sustainability

• Systems
• World Views
• Futures

Program Experiences

Catchment Investigation: Investigate the interconnected components of a catchment and examine how water moves through the landscape.

Natural Bridge Riparian Ecosystem Study: Explore the role of riparian vegetation in maintaining waterway health and ecosystem function.

Water Quality Testing: Collect and interpret environmental data to assess the condition of a freshwater ecosystem.

Rapid Assessment Riparian Condition (RARC): Apply field assessment techniques to evaluate riparian condition and environmental health.

River Health Assessment: Investigate indicators of ecosystem health and analyse relationships between environmental factors.

Restoration Site Investigation: Examine environmental management strategies and evaluate actions used to restore degraded ecosystems.

Sample Program Schedule

Details, timings and activities vary depending on conditions and group size.

Ideal Year: Years 9-12
Delivery: Day Program or Residential Camp
Curriculum Focus: Science, Geography, Sustainability, Service Learning

Program Overview

Holding Tight is NVEEC's flagship conservation program. Students move beyond learning about environmental issues and contribute directly to the restoration and protection of local ecosystems through authentic conservation projects. Working alongside environmental educators and community partners, students develop an understanding of how individuals and communities can make a positive difference through action. Based in the Nerang River catchment, the program combines environmental science, sustainability and stewardship with meaningful real-world contribution.

Key Understandings

• Healthy ecosystems support healthy communities.
• Conservation requires long-term commitment and action.
• Human activities can positively and negatively impact environments.
• Restoration improves biodiversity and ecosystem health.
• Everyone has a role to play in caring for Country and the environment.

Australian Curriculum v9 Alignment

Science

Holding Tight can support learning related to:

• Ecosystem relationships and biodiversity.
• Human impacts on environments.
• Environmental sustainability.
• Scientific investigation and data collection.

Geography

Holding Tight can support learning related to:

• Environmental change and management.
• Sustainability and stewardship.
• Human influence on environments.
• Fieldwork and inquiry skills.

Cross-Curriculum Priority

Sustainability

• Systems
• World Views
• Futures

General Capabilities

• Personal and Social Capability
• Ethical Understanding
• Critical and Creative Thinking

Program Experiences

Tree Planting and Habitat Restoration: Contribute directly to ecosystem restoration through hands-on conservation activities that improve habitat quality and biodiversity.

Catchment Health Investigations: Examine the health of local waterways and ecosystems through field observations and environmental monitoring.

Wildlife Corridor Restoration: Investigate the importance of habitat connectivity and participate in actions that support native wildlife.

Nest Box Construction: Design and construct habitat structures that support local species and strengthen biodiversity outcomes.

Conservation Action Projects: Participate in meaningful environmental projects that create lasting benefits for local ecosystems.

First Nations Perspectives on Caring for Country: Explore the relationship between people, place and stewardship through First Nations perspectives and practices.

Sample Program Schedule

Details, timings and activities vary depending on conditions and group size.

Residential Camp Option

Residential camps provide additional opportunities for:

• Extended restoration projects
• Glow Worm Experience
• Canoeing
• Leadership and service activities
• Reflection sessions
• Community-building experiences

Holding Tight is designed to help students move from understanding environmental challenges to taking meaningful action that contributes to healthier ecosystems and stronger communities.​