NSW Environmental Education Centres

Natural learning

Observatory Hill Environmental Education Centre

Observatory Hill EEC

Observatory Hill Environmental Education Centre (OHEEC) offers curriculum based fieldwork experiences in and around the inner city and Sydney Harbour. The Centre delivers innovative and contextually relevant teaching and learning programs that support our vision: "To provide world class experiential leaning in an urban environment, that enriches curriculum and inspires future focused global citizens."

We do this by providing:

  • diverse learning experiences in iconic urban settings
  • school based sustainability programs
  • professional learning.

Our educational programs incorporate environmental / sustainability perspectives and are available for students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Fieldwork programs cover several curriculum areas and take place over a full school day. The cost of our programs is minimal and we can cover up to four classes - depending on the date booked.

About our centre

Our centre is part of the NSW Department of Education’s Environmental Education Centres network. We help students and teachers learn about the environment, sustainability and nature through hands-on learning.

Our environment

Our centre uses locations around Sydney's CBD and local natural areas, inlcuding Sydney Harbour, to make learning active, enjoyable and linked to real life. Outdoor learning helps students feel more connected to nature.

Working with schools

We work with all NSW public and non-government schools.

Learning programs

Observatory Hill Environmental Education Centre can cater for fieldwork and special projects supporting most key learning areas. We can support K – 12 learning outcomes in:

  • Environmental & Sustainability education
  • Aboriginal perspectives
  • Geography
  • History
  • Science

Teacher support

We also support teachers with:

  • workshops for professional learning
  • helpful teaching resources
  • support with planning lessons and programs

Observatory HIll is on Gadigal Country.

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People, places and events

History

Stage 3

This program supports ‘The Australian Colonies’ content of the Stage 3 History Syllabus as well as learning across the curriculum in ‘Sustainability Education’,  ‘Information and Communication Technology Capabilities’ and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures’.

Students will take part in a variety of pre-visit tasks to familiarise them with the history and heritage of The Rocks. They will then visit various sites in The Rocks that will be used to focus attention on colonial people, places and events during the 1800’s. The program takes the form of a fun and engaging mystery hunt for clues about important people, places and events that shaped Australia’s identity during the colonial period. Students will work in supervised teams and use Centre iPads to create a site study journal of their investigations of the following people places and events.

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Urban dynamics - Barangaroo

Geography

Stage 6

Urban Dynamics – Barangaroo supports Stage 6 Geography and focuses on the urban dynamics of renewal and consolidation in Barangaroo Sydney. Barangaroo is undergoing rapid change as a result of urban consolidation and renewal. Students will investigate the urban dynamics and assess the sustainability and liveability of Barangaroo, using ‘best practice’ planning principles, in order to answer a fieldwork question. They will also visit the adjacent suburb of Millers Point to observe the impacts of urban renewal through Gentrification.

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Urban dynamics - Pyrmont

Geography

Stage 6

Welcome to this case study for HSC Geography. The focus of this study is of the suburb of Pyrmont in Sydney to address the syllabus dot point, “a case study showing one of the urban dynamics listed above, operating in a country town or suburb.” Working through this website and completing the learning modules, develops a deep understanding of the dynamics operating within the suburb, challenges faced on a larger scale, and the outcomes of policies implemented.

Student activities

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NSW Environmental Education Centres

We would like to pay our respects and acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and also pay respect to Elders both past and present.

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