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Education Programs at The Briars

We believe the best environmental education occurs in nature. At the Briars we offer hands on learning in our 230-hectare outdoor classroom. Our Foundation to Year 6 programs have been developed to explore contemporary environmental challenges facing the next generation. In 2024 we are offering programs for Year 6 to Year 10 students and are very happy to work with teachers in developing programs and activities to support VCAL and VCE subjects.

Our suite of programs includes six Biological Science programs and six Sustainability programs. Download a copy of our programs .

In addition, we offer a First Peoples Cultural Program in partnership with Living Culture. Details and Victorian Curriculum links are detailed below in each class description.

Sessions are available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout the school term, and we offer three time slots per day.

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Briars Education Program

Our classes are delivered by our Rangers who are trained conservationists, environmentalists and educators. Our classes are available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday throughout the school term.

You are welcome to book between one and three time slots per day which are set at 10am, 11am and 12.40pm. When booking, please book the day and the number of time slots and then select the class you would like for each time slot.

Example timetable for Briars Education Program:

Program	10am - 10:50am	11am - 11:50am	12pm - 12:40pm	12:40pm - 1:30pm
Class 1 (25 students)	Plant power	Bushfire	Lunch	Creature features
Class 2 (25 students)	Creature features	Plant power	Lunch	Bushfire
Class 3 (25 students)	Bushfire	Creature features	Lunch	Plant power

Cultural Program with Living Culture

Living Culture provides immersive, cultural programs from the First People's perspective. Your students can find out all about our fauna and flora and the knowledge they give us by taking a program with Living Culture on country in the Wildlife Sanctuary.

Things to consider for your visit

We can accommodate a total of 75 students per time slot (3 classes of 25 students each). However, single or double time slot bookings are also welcome. Classes are taught outside in the Wildlife Sanctuary, or the Briars Park and students should be dressed appropriately.

Cost

Briars Education Program: $145.00 per class with a maximum of 25 students.
Living Culture Program: Cost dependant on number of students and number of programs. Please give us a call to discuss on 5974 3686

What to bring

Students will need to bring a hat, their lunch, a drink bottle with water and have sunscreen already applied. We request that teachers organise tubs for lunches to be stored on the deck of our Visitor’s Centre.

Bus and coach parking

As the Visitor Centre carpark can become busy, we recommend busses use the first gravel carpark on the left before the bridge. Students and teachers can walk across the bridge to the BBQ area where Rangers will greet them.

Lunch

There is a 40-minute block allocated for lunch between sessions 2 and 3. Students and Teachers have the opportunity to have lunch on our event lawn. Please note this time block includes travelling from the second session to the event lawn, as well as a toilet break before the next session begins. There is a filtered water tap available on the deck at the Visitor Centre to fill water bottles.

Toilets

There are two female and male toilets at the Visitor Centre. However, they won’t have access to amenities while in the Wildlife Sanctuary.

Programs

Plant power

Students will develop an understanding of how various plants are described by observing physical features, as well as considering how plants function within the changing environment.

Cool as a reptile, hot as a mammal

Students will have the opportunity to explore the seasonal behaviours of different sorts of animals, based on understanding of animal classifications.

Cogs of nature

An emphasis on ‘everything in its place’ helps students understand what happens when something is removed from its environment and can no longer contribute to the cycle.

Seed to tree

Students will observe the life cycle of plants, with an emphasis on the different things' plants need throughout their life cycle to grow and mature.

Welcome to the plant-hood

Students will observe what different plants make up vegetation communities and how these plants might coexist together and provide suitable habitat for animals.

Creature features

Students will explore the different sorts of animals within The Briars Wildlife Sanctuary and learn about the different features they have and how those features allow them to function within their environments.

Cultural Program

Our Cultural Program has been developed with Living Culture to ensure students engage with the flora and fauna of the Mornington Peninsula from the perspective of the First Peoples.

Bushfire

Fire is an important part of our Australian landscapes, with processes such as seed germination relying on bushfire events. Students will explore the science behind bushfires through practical exploration of landscapes and weather conditions, as well as learn what they can do to prepare for bushfire.

Extreme weather

Changes in weather are vital for life on earth, including seasonal changes from wet to dry, even weather events like fire play an important role in shaping our natural environments. Understanding the impacts of extreme weather and how to prepare for more frequent extreme weather events is an important part of equipping students to seek a more sustainable existence.

Insect Biodiversity

Insects tend to get forgotten in the discussion of conservation and habitat loss. Through pollinating, decomposing and predation, these tiny critters are keeping our ecosystem in balance. Students will gain knowledge in why must conserve our insect populations and the invaluable ecosystem services they provide.

Invasive Species

Invasive species are one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss in Australia. By introducing species into new environments, humans have greatly disrupted the natural ecosystem causing catastrophic losses of many native species. Students will gain hands on conservation experience in this lesson.

Patterns in Nature

Patterns and shapes in nature often inspire creativity and art, but they can also tell us about what is happening in our environments. Students will celebrate the beautiful patterns in nature by creating their own art piece, whilst reflecting on their ability to consciously recognise changes in the world around them.

Sustainable Land Use

With an increasing human population, sustainable land management is becoming an increasingly prominent global issue. Students will participate in practical methods used by scientists to collect Land Use data, including land surveys and field sketches. Students will gain an understanding of how we can promote sustainable land use that is mindful of both people and the natural environment.