Frequently asked questions

Select the program you’d like your students to undertake, taking note of the price and maximum student numbers for that particular program. Head to the bookings page, check the availability calendar to find a suitable date for your school, then complete the Google Form. A confirmation email will be sent to your school with all relevant information.

Yes, there may be other schools using the facilities. Due to high demand, we sometimes need to double-book—usually with smaller groups. We will advise you at the time of booking or before your excursion if this is the case.

Yes, risk assessments are available for all Brewongle programs. These can be downloaded from the Google Site emailed to you with your booking information. These serve as guides to assist schools in completing their own risk assessments. The NSW Department of Education also has useful excursion resources on their website.

After your booking is confirmed, Brewongle EEC will email you an information package including the program itinerary for the day/camp, general information, risk and site details, bus access map, syllabus links, worksheets that may be used, resources we will supply, and items the school needs to bring.

Please contact bus companies directly to organise your own charter. Buses should arrive at the Sackville North School of Arts Hall (730 Sackville Ferry Road) to drop off and pick up students. Buses  cannot  access Brewongle EEC via Chapel Hill Road and should not attempt to drive on this road. Details can be found on the BEEC Map and on the Google Map on the contact us page.

The centre is operated by the NSW Department of Education to support DoE schools, but does accept bookings from non-DoE schools at a slightly higher cost.

Prices are listed on the pricing page of our website. Maximum numbers apply for each day and there is a minimum cost for small groups. Please contact us directly to discuss pricing.

Maximum student numbers are listed under the details for each program. Our programs are designed to accommodate whole year or stage groups and we can generally cater for large numbers.

Incursion prices vary depending on the program selected and student numbers. Generally, one Brewongle teacher can deliver three classes in a day for an incursion program, and we may be able to allocate 2–3 teachers to an incursion in a day. Please contact us for pricing.

All adults must wear clothing suitable for bushwalking, including enclosed shoes. Failure to wear enclosed shoes will limit adult participation in some activities, particularly bushwalking and kayaking. Heels and platforms are not suitable onsite.

We recommend K–6 students wear their sports uniform, as normal school uniforms are not suitable for the bush. Years 7–12 students should wear appropriate clothing for fieldwork; sports uniform is a good option. Hats and closed shoes are essential. Failure to wear closed shoes will limit student participation in some activities, especially bushwalking and kayaking.

All teachers and students must wear enclosed shoes for kayaking (old sneakers or water booties are ideal), as well as hats and shirts to cover shoulders. There is a short bushwalk to the kayaking site, so appropriate clothing for bushwalking is also essential.

Visiting teachers and schools must familiarise themselves with the updated NSW Department of Education School Sport Unit: Canoeing – Recreational guidelines. Students must meet certain prerequisites and experience requirements to participate in kayaking. The program can be adjusted to exclude kayaking if necessary.

Students need to bring their own food (low litter), drinks, sunblock, hats, and wet weather gear in a small backpack or bag. Plastic bags are not suitable. Umbrellas are not suitable. Only essential items should be brought. Students must eat breakfast on the day of the excursion. All students need to bring a water bottle; in summer months, students should bring two bottles of water, one of them frozen.

A detailed list of what to bring on camp at Brewongle will be sent to the school with confirmation of the camp booking. Please note, not all camp programs include kayaking.

Brewongle has approximately 120 clipboards available for student use.

If a student is unwell before the excursion, do not bring them. The bus ride and physical activities such as bushwalking will not improve the child’s condition and may worsen it. Brewongle is a long way for parents to travel to pick up a sick child.

The excursion will likely go ahead if the forecast predicts light rain, but it may be postponed if heavy rain is expected. Please phone or email the centre the day before the excursion to discuss if it will proceed. Mobile contact numbers are provided on the day program. If the excursion proceeds, students will need wet weather jackets (umbrellas are unsuitable). Brewongle has a limited number of raincoats available for unexpected needs. While we will try to find a suitable replacement date, we cannot guarantee availability.

Brewongle is a Category 1 Bushfire School and will close on catastrophic fire danger days. Excursions will also likely be postponed in extreme conditions. Please contact the centre as early as possible to confirm whether the excursion can proceed. Due to its location, Brewongle takes bushfire risk seriously and will avoid having students onsite when the risk is high. While we will endeavour to find a replacement date, this cannot be guaranteed.

Student safety is paramount. If temperatures rise above 35°C, activities will be modified to reduce physical exertion. Students will be required to limit physical play during breaks. Alternative indoor activities will be provided in wet or extreme weather.

Please refer to our Booking and Cancellation Policy. Cancellations with less than 30 days' notice will incur charges, except in cases of weather or fire danger.

Student numbers must be confirmed one week prior to the excursion date to ensure adequate staffing. Failure to confirm will result in billing for the maximum number of students. Please refer to the Booking and Cancellation Policy for details.

Many programs include student worksheets that schools need to print and bring on the day of the excursion. Worksheets will be emailed to the school and are also available to download from our website under the booked program’s information.

Most programs include pre-excursion tasks for students to complete beforehand. These activities help students get the most from their excursion. Please refer to our website under the program’s information. Most have an excursion webpage with worksheets and supporting resources.

All Brewongle staff hold current first aid training, and the centre is equipped with first aid kits, epipens, ventolin inhalers, and a defibrillator. However, schools are required to bring their own First Aid kits and nominate a first aid officer for the excursion.