Schools

Workshop: Be Sharps Smart
Type: Incursion
Time allocation: 1 hour
Delivered by: Wagga Wagga City Council
About the session:
Join Needles and friends in an interactive session to learn what it takes to Be Sharps Smart. Wagga Wagga City Council has embarked on an innovative approach to engage, educate and help children learn about sharps. A published book educates children to identify sharps and its dangers in open public spaces. It helps to understand the action that needs to be taken when sharps are spotted. Children learn to step back and tell an adult straight away. Adults are educated on the processes to follow should they observe or be notified of sharps in public spaces.

Workshop: Let’s Recycle Right workshop
Type: Incursion or excursion (available Thursdays and fridays only)
Please note excursions are held at Kurrajong Recyclers, 54 Chaston St Wagga Wagga, limit of 28 students
Time allocation: 1 hour
Delivered by: Kurrajong Recycling
About the session:
Just what goes in which bin and why? During this workshop students build on their recycling skills by examining the contents of mini bins, discussing recycling advertisements’ messages, and placing household packaging and containers in the correct bin. Students discover the importance of putting the ‘right thing in the right bin’: keeping the recycling facility viable, reusing precious natural resources and protecting our environment.

Workshop: Be Sharps Smart
Type: Incursion
Time allocation: 1 hour
Delivered by: Wagga Wagga City Council 
About the session:
Join Needles and friends in an interactive session to learn what it takes to Be Sharps Smart. Wagga Wagga City Council has embarked on an innovative approach to engage, educate and help children learn about sharps. A published book educates children to identify sharps and its dangers in open public spaces. It helps to understand the action that needs to be taken when sharps are spotted. Children learn to step back and tell an adult straight away. Adults are educated on the processes to follow should they observe or be notified of sharps in public spaces.

Workshop: Let’s Recycle Right workshop
Type: Incursion or excursion (available Thursdays and Fridays only)
Please note excursions are held at Kurrajong Recyclers, 54 Chaston St Wagga Wagga, limit of 28 students
Time allocation: 1 hour
Delivered by: Kurrajong Recycling
About the session:
Just what goes in which bin and why? During this workshop students build on their recycling skills by examining the contents of mini bins, discussing our recycling advertisements’ messages, and placing household packaging and containers in the correct bin. Students discover the importance of putting the ‘right thing in the right bin’: keeping the recycling facility viable, reusing precious natural resources and protecting our environment. The workshop is an opportunity for students to explore the cross-curriculum priority of sustainability, connect students’ recycling actions with positive outcomes, and provide the rationale behind why different materials can or cannot be recycled.

Workshop: Cool Schools (limited sessions available during Term 1, 2024)
Type: Incursion, suitable for stage 2 and stage 3
Time allocation: 1 hour
About the session:
Students investigate the role of trees in their own school grounds and discover the many different functions they provide in our environment. While we discuss issues such as air quality and biodiversity, the focus of this workshop is the effect of urban cooling. To demonstrate the effect of Urban Cooling in real time, we move out into the playground to take temperature readings at various locations and discuss which area would benefit from the addition of a shade tree.
Note: As part of this workshop, you will receive a semi-mature shade tree to plant in an area at your school. To be delivered in the Winter months for the best planting.

Workshop: Cleaning Up Our Catchment (limited sessions available during Term 1, 2024)
Type: Incursion, suitable for stage 1, 2 and 3
Time allocation: 1 hour
About the session: 
Everything we do has an effect on everyone around us, but what does this mean for our local rivers and streams? This workshop is designed to increase students’ knowledge and awareness of our local catchment area with a focus on the impact of human activities and water quality. While it explores the effect of big industry, it also aims to provide an understanding of how each one of us can change our behaviour to help the natural environment.
Note: Please be aware this workshop involves a water activity and ideally should be conducted under the COLA or a similar area.

Workshop: School Biodiversity Investigation (limited sessions available during Term 1, 2024)
Type: Incursion, suitable for stage 2 and stage 3
Time allocation: 1 hour
About the Session: Students investigate the relationship between native plant species and our native wildlife, and the consequences of removing some species and not others. We learn about the term biodiversity and why it’s important to encourage a greater variety of different native species in our gardens, and that these habitats are also healthier and more stable. To demonstrate these effects, we move out into the playground to survey plant species and see how your school stacks up.

Workshop: Marrambidya Wetland Tour (limited sessions available during Term 1, 2024)
Type: Incursion, suitable for any stage
Time allocation:  2 hours on site
About the session: 
Centrally located, the Marrambidya Wetland was officially open in June 2016 and has since welcomed migratory birds, possums, native fish and visitors alike. Mimicking a natural wetland, students will learn the importance of wetlands in a riverine ecosystem, providing nursery habitats for our local fauna and the altered water regimes of the Murrumbidgee River.
Students can undertake various activity including water bug investigations to determine water quality (seasonally available), conduct nest box fauna surveys, identify birds from our bird hides, view the site from the elevated viewing platform and reflect in the Healing Place.

Important information:

• Maximum 40 students on site (unless other wise negotiated)
• Toilet facilities are available on site
• Students must wear enclosed footwear, sun protection including hats and bring along a bottle of water
• There are minimal bins on site so all rubbish must be taken away
• Schools are required to arrange their own transport to and from site
• Activities carried out are dependent on the time available

Workshop: Let’s Recycle Right workshop
Type: Incursion or excursion (available Thursdays and Fridays)
Please note excursions are held at Kurrajong Recyclers, 54 Chaston St Wagga Wagga, limit of 28 students
Time allocation: 1 hour
Delivered by: Kurrajong Recycling
About the session:
Just what goes in which bin and why? During this workshop students build on their recycling skills by examining the contents of the three bins, discussing our recycling advertisements’ messages, and correctly sorting household packaging and containers into the correct bin. Students discover the importance of putting the ‘right thing in the right bin’: keeping the recycling facility viable, reusing precious natural resources and protecting our environment. The workshop is an opportunity for students to explore the cross-curriculum priority of sustainability; is relevant to science, technology and geography learning areas; connects students’ recycling actions with positive outcomes; and provides the rationale behind why different materials can or cannot be recycled.

Workshop: Marrambidya Wetland Tour (limited sessions available during Term 1, 2024)
Type: Incursion, suitable for any stage
Time allocation:  2 hours on site
About the session: 
Centrally located, the Marrambidya Wetland was officially open in June 2016 and has since welcomed migratory birds, possums, native fish and visitors alike. Mimicking a natural wetland, students will learn the importance of wetlands in a riverine ecosystem, providing nursery habitats for our local fauna and the altered water regimes of the Murrumbidgee River.
Students can undertake various activity including water bug investigations to determine water quality (seasonally available), conduct nest box fauna surveys, identify birds from our bird hides, view the site from the elevated viewing platform and reflect in the Healing Place.

Important information:

• Maximum 40 students on site (unless other wise negotiated)
• Toilet facilities are available on site
• Students must wear enclosed footwear, sun protection including hats and bring along a bottle of water
• There are minimal bins on site so all rubbish must be taken away
• Schools are required to arrange their own transport to and from site
• Activities carried out are dependent on the time available