Day Care teachers, Playgroup Facilitators, Early Learning Practitioners, Primary School Teachers, Secondary Teachers, Outdoor Education Facilitators... ANY individual that understands the benefits that nature provides the youth of today.  

Practical skills and knowledge about taking your class or group outside in your centre, playground and offsite to align with the early years learning framework (EYLF) and school curriculum. You will hear from early childhood, primary, and secondary outdoor education specialists. This event will allow attendees to come together to connect, so you will learn from each other as well as specialists.

Knowledge, upskilling opportunities, gaining confidence in taking groups outside, learning tips and tricks that can produce real outcomes, as well as navigating the challenges associated with school or organisational policies. 

• Welcome Coffee & Tea 

Opening KeyNote Address by past Stunt Woman of the Year, Outdoor Ambassador and Adventurer Ky Furneaux on the impact of the environment on human beings. 

Main Session - Placing Country as the Teacher

• Morning Tea

Breakout Sessions 1 & Breakout Sessions 2

1. The Power of Story Telling & Song
2. Practical ways to add First Nations Perspectives
3. The Nature School Story & Tour
4. Billabong Zoo - Involving the Animals
5. The importance of playground design for outdoor learning

• Lunch

Breakout Sessions 3 & Breakout Sessions 4 

1. Enriching Learning by Connecting Curriculum with Nature
2. Establishing an Inclusive Outdoor Learning Space
3. Using the Outdoors to enhance Student Well-being
4. Education outside the classroom (EOTC)

Final Keynote - Conquering the obstacles to getting our youth outdoors (PANEL DISCUSSION) 

• Close

• Ky Furneaux

  Ky is an Australian outdoor guide, TV host, survival expert and stunt person who has appeared in over 100 films and TV productions. Furneaux has also branched into hosting, returning to her survival roots to produce and co-host Hike for Survival, an epic 100-mile trek spanning the Sierra Nevada. Furneaux has also been featured on the Discovery Channel's hit show Naked and Afraid. In March 2014, Furneaux's first book debuted. Published by Penguin Australia, Girl’s Own Survival Guide is a fun read for women to help them be proactive in any situation, from a broken stiletto to foraging for food in the wilderness. Her most recent book release is “Survive” - the all-in-one guide to surviving in extreme conditions.

• Peter Kent

  With over 20 years of experience in Senior Leadership roles covering Education, Government Policy, and private industry where he has been able to demonstrate my long-standing ability to lead effective strategic change. This has been recognised in numerous national and international awards, including the international merit-based Endeavour Executive Award (2011), recognising his leadership of innovation, and more recently the 2021 National Excellence in Teaching Awards – Founders Principal Award for Leadership. Peter holds a Masters of Education, a Diploma of Project Management, and a Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership.

• Catherine Shaw 

• Catherine is the founding Head of The Nature School Primary – a nature based, independent school in beautiful Port Macquarie. She is an accomplished educator, writer, poet, and self-confessed bird nerd. In her first three years of principalship she has created a vibrant learning community with an impressive following. Under Catherine’s leadership, teachers are challenged to transform their practice, taking learning beyond the traditional classroom walls. She is experienced in Primary Curriculum and Professional Learning, and is a writer for the revised NSW English Syllabus (3-6). She advocates for the use of quality Australian literature and has an enormous collection of nature related books.

• Christian Eckardt

  Christian Eckardt is a former teacher and event manager, Christian has been able to combine his two professional interests at Centennial Parklands/ Greater Sydney Parklands. Having grown up in Germany, he is well acquainted with the model of forest schools and outdoor education. Together with his team of experienced outdoor educators, he has been creating and running nature play programs that focus on Australian culture and environment since 2017.

   

  Dani Fine

  An early childhood specialist with over a decade of experience working as both a teacher and educational therapist, primarily with young children with disabilities. Current role is an education officer for Greater Sydney Parklands, where the blending of many passions together to create and facilitate nature connection and environmental learning programs for children and community members from the age of 2.5 and beyond.

   

  Dr Amanda Lloyd

  Dr Amanda Lloyd has experience as a teacher, researcher, professional development facilitator, in management and leadership roles. She has worked making cubby houses and advocating for others to make them too. Amanda is currently the Nature Play Development Manager for Greater Sydney Parklands.

• Nicole Ribera

  Nicole loves to educate, inspire and share stories with visitors to create a connection, and appreciation for the environment, heritage, culture and layered histories of place.

  With over 15 years experience with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney Olympic Park Authority and various work experience opportunities in education and environmental fields that have provided me the experience to compliment degrees in Environmental Management & Tourism (BAppSci), Environmental Education (Postgrad) & Diploma of Education (Primary) (Postgrad).

• Kara Spence

  Kara’s career has been defined by one objective: Be outside. Over the past 30 years Kara has combined her passion for the environment, education and the community in designing and coordinating award-winning nature projects. A former Park Ranger, a certified Forest School Level 3 Leader, a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide and fully registered Teacher, she brings curriculum alive through unique outdoor learning experiences. She is an expert at curriculum design and facilitating collaborative planning, having developed many primary inquiry-based units in her career. Kara is a fully registered Teacher with a degree in Environmental Studies, honours Geography.

• Helen Cooper
• Helen has honed her outdoor skills in a variety of organisations in Australia and internationally during the past 22+ years working in various roles in the outdoor industry, including currently with her own small business Primal Adventures and with Outdoors NSW & ACT. She loves being behind the desk devising new programs almost as much as blazing new trails, and has a passion for creating the conditions to empower girls and young women to be brave. Helen has a degree in Environmental Management, Graduate Diploma in Education, and qualifications in Outdoor Recreation, fitness coaching and yoga teaching. She has just submitted her proposal to undertake a longitudinal study on the Pymble Ladies’ College outdoor education program with Western Sydney Uni. Helen also masquerades at times as a suburban mum of two teenage girls.