Environmental Education Programs for Schools
Council provides Environmental Education (EE) programs supporting over 80 local schools. They are located across Hills Shire and neighbouring areas.
These programs are provided by Council's Environmental and Health team in collaboration with the Resource Recovery team.
Schools Green Network
The Schools Green Network is open to all educators in the Hills Shire Local Government Area (LGA). It connects local schools and educators and promotes positive environmental initiatives.
The network provides a platform to share, inform and inspire each other. They explore local environmental education programs, initiatives, resources, and facilities in schools.
The Schools Green network currently meets once a term. To join the network please contact the council’s:
The next meeting open to all educators in the Hills is on Thursday, 4 May 4pm - 5pm at The Hills Shire Council Administration Building, 3 Columbia Court, Norwest.
Education Programs
Duke of Edinburgh High School Program
The Duke of Edinburgh is a self-development program open to all students at high school age of 14 to 25 years. The Award is non-competitive. Instead it encourages youth to set and achieve goals to their abilities and potential.
There are different levels from Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level has different volunteer hours and activities that need to be completed.
High school students can now apply to the Duke of Edinburgh program to achieve their volunteering hours and goals.
Apply through:
- the Community Environment Centre Annangrove
- Bidjiwong Nursery
- The Hills Shire Council Library Program
Environmental Education Officer School Outreach Program
Schools can engage with the Environmental Education Officer school outreach program. This Free program is open to feedback and suggestions. The program is flexible to meet the schools’ goals and interests.
Excursions
- Open excursions to the Community Environment Centre, Annangrove.
- Focus on native gardens, growing food, and sustainability.
- Open excursions to Bidjiwong Community Nursery and guided walk at Ted Horwood Reserve. This excursion focuses on living things, ecology, adaptations, native plants, and plant propagation.
- There are 2x available excursions/incursions to different schools per term.
Incursions
- Open incursion on topic ‘Caring for Native Wildlife’. This focuses on living things, Australian Wildlife, ecology, and adaptations.
- Open incursion on topic ‘Grow Your Own Native Garden’. This focuses on native gardens, growing food, and sustainability.
- There are 2x available excursions/incursions to different schools per term.
Advice Visits
- The Environmental Education Officer will go out and visit the school or environmental facilities, providing advice on a range of topics such as starting a worm farm, compost bins, vegetable garden and native garden.
- There are 5x available advice visits to different schools per term.
Please note the school outreach program aims to connect and engage with as many different schools and educators in The Hills Shire where possible. This is subject to the time and resources available of the Environmental Education Officer.
To keep it fair, each school that contacts us will be scheduled when excursions/incursions/advice visits are available per term (in that school year)
We aim to engage with as many different schools as possible.
Cleanaway kNOw Waste
- Education incursions available for childcares/ preschools, primary and high school students.
- They are funded by Council and are FREE for schools to access.
- A variety of modules are available and are curriculum linked.
For more information or to book, click here.
Links to other local excursion venues and environmental providers
Education Events
Walks in The Hills Shire
Discover nature, bushland conservation, history and heritage in The Hills Shire with this series of free guided walks for all ages.
You may uncover a newfound appreciation for the everyday natural wonders of the Hills that might otherwise be missed!
The walks are open to all Hills residents in the community.
Click here to find out when the next event is taking place.
Hills Eco Kidz
The Hills Eco Kids is a nature education program for children ages 2-10 years.
Every month children and their families come to engage in interactive and fun activities. These teach children about the natural world.
Children nowadays are more likely to play indoors or spend time on their screens than go outside. This means children are lacking opportunities to be creative and to connect with nature.
Nurturing a connection between children and the natural environment will help your child. They will develop an understanding of the importance nature has on the world and our day-to-day lives. They will improve their physical and mental health and creative thinking!
To find out more, visit the Cattai Hills Environment Network's Events Page here.
Plastic Free July
Plastic Free July is a Global movement to go plastic free for the month of July. People can sign up to be part of the challenge for FREE as part of the ‘Plastic Free schools’ challenge.
A variety of resources are available on their website to help promote the program and provide information about how to avoid plastic within the school.
More Information
Register Your School
Little Eco Warriors
Join our newest group of children who care about the environment. This program is run by Castle Hill Library and organised in collaboration with The Hills Shire Environment team and Resource Recovery team.
Little Eco Warriors is an after school program for primary school children to learn about the environment in a fun and interactive way.
To find out more, visit The Hills Shire Library Service's Events Page here.
Schools Fundraising - Return and Earn
Fundraising can be done through Return and Earn. Details on how to arrange this can be found on their website here.