Program overview
For millennia, Aboriginal people have used fire as a sustainable land management tool. Through the practice of cool, controlled burning, they have maintained the health of Country by promoting biodiversity, reducing fuel build-up, and supporting the natural regeneration of plants and animals. During this excursion, participants will learn how to safely make, transport, and apply cool fire techniques to care for the landscape in a sustainable way. When Country is not managed with good fire practices, vegetation can become overgrown, increasing the risk of intense and destructive wildfires that threaten ecosystems, cultural sites, and communities. Severe bushfires can cause significant damage to flora and fauna, disrupt important cultural areas, and alter the balance of ecosystems, sometimes requiring many years to recover.
Science 7–10 Syllabus (2023)
Environmental sustainability
Outcomes
- SC5-ENV-01 - analyses the impact of human activity on the natural world
- SC5-MAT-01 - assesses the uses of materials based on their physical and chemical properties
- SC5-WS-02 - develops questions and hypotheses for scientific investigation
- SC5-WS-06 - analyses data from investigations to identify trends, patterns and relationships, and draws conclusions
- SC5-WS-07 - selects suitable problem-solving strategies and evaluates proposed solutions to identified problems
- SC5-WS-08 - communicates scientific arguments with evidence, using scientific language and terminology in a range of communication forms
Content
Alternative resource use and recycling
- Research how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have developed sustainable harvesting practices and Cultural protocols based on deep ecological understandings
| 1 |
Leaf burn test Students will learn and investigate how different types of fuel burn and to understand how the moisture content of fuel affects fire behaviour. |
| 2 |
Fire sticks Students learn to use traditional methods to create fire with a hand drill and tinder, while working cooperatively in teams. |
| 3 |
Transporting fire Students learn to use traditional methods to keep an ember alive while travelling, focusing on choosing and using natural materials, problem-solving, and teamwork. |
| 4 |
Marshmallows Students learn to use a controlled fire safely and responsibly to cook food, appreciating the benefits of well-managed fire. |
| 5 |
Fire tile game Students learn to model cultural fire planning at a landscape scale by understanding mosaic burning and how different terrain types affect burn practices. |
| 6 |
Fire tile game Students learn to read Country by identifying key ecological and cultural fire indicators—such as soil, plant communities, terrain, and seasonal signs. |
| 7 |
Burn plan Students learn to use ecological and cultural indicators to make informed decisions about when, where, and why a patch of Country should be burned. |
|
Sample of a 1 group program For multiple groups/classes, the same activities are run on an alternating schedule |
|
| 9:45 |
Welcome to Brewongle Safety briefing |
| 10:00 | RECESS |
| 10:15 | Leaf burn test |
| 10:45 | Fire sticks |
| 11:00 | Transporting fire |
| 11:25 | Marshmallows |
| 11:45 | LUNCH |
| 12:15 | Fire tile games |
| 12:45 | Leaf burn test |
| 1:30 | Reflection of activities / Wrap up / Toilets |
| 2:00 | Farewell |
| Location | Brewongle Environmental Education Centre, Sackville North |
| Transport |
Buses are booked by the visiting school. A map to the bus parking will be sent with the schools confirmation email. Please ensure you print the map and give to the bus driver the morning of the excursion. |
| Program costs | Program costs |
| Student numbers |
Maximum student numbers are 30 students per class - up to 6 classes per day No minimum student numbers (instead possible minimum costs) |
| Supporting teachers and staff | Minimum requirement is one teacher per attending class |
| Program start and finish times |
Brewongle arrival time is 9:45 am - departure time is 2 pm * discuss prior to your visit if you require alternate times |
| Medical and welfare notifications |
Using the Brewongle medical and welfare form (sent with the confirmation email), inform Brewongle staff of any medical conditions or special requirements prior to the visit This program can be adapted for teachers and students with specific mobility requirements |
| Adverse weather |
Visit our visitor information page to view our weather trigger points for program changes On days where the weather is unsuitable, a Brewongle staff member will contact the organising teacher to discuss alternative arrangements |
| Booking and cancellation policy requirements |
Brewongle booking and cancellation policy Student attendance numbers confirmed 7 days prior to visit Cancellation fees may apply |
| Inclusive learning support | Visit our inclusive education website for further excursion support materials |
Booking enquiries
Get in touch to ask a question, plan a visit or find out more about what we offer
Brewongle EEC provides inclusive learning support through accessible, hands-on, and differentiated programs that cater to diverse learning needs, ensuring all learners can engage meaningfully with curriculum-based experiences in nature.