What makes Walkabout School Workshops different?
Step into the animals’ world, to learn about so much more!
At Walkabout, students learn what “Connecting with Country” and “Caring for Country” means.
Choose from a full 2½ hour workshop, or a condensed 1½ hour workshop, or a tailored workshop.
Most schools choose the full workshop. The condensed workshops are designed for smaller groups (up to 15 students) or for students with special needs who need frequent breaks.
At Walkabout, your students literally “step into the animals’ world” of native wild bushland habitat, making this quite different from a conventional zoo experience.
All workshops include a “spikes, scales, feathers and fur” module. You choose a second module with activities drawn from traditional Aboriginal culture.
Walkabout’s unique learning environment
More than 350 animals in care. Native wildlife, small farm animals, and a handful of exotics to meet and learn about!
170 acres of old growth Australian bushland, unspoiled nature and rich cultural landscape
Friendly wildlife roaming free
Heritage listed Aboriginal art and shelter sites
Bush tucker and bush medicine growing along the tracks
The real Australian bush
Native wildlife and small farm animals
Knowledgeable rangers
- Australian & Overseas Schools
| Australian Schools | Overseas Schools | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Workshop | $22 per student (20 to 90 students) | Price on application |
| Condensed Workshop | $28 per student (10-20 students) | Price on application |
| Parents and Siblings | Pay student prices | Price on application |
| Teachers and Aides supervising | No charge | Price on application |
| Tailored Workshop | Price on application | Price on application |
Structured Learning Outcomes
Our Education Team
The rangers who guide and teach your students are the same people who look after the animals and their wild habitat.
Our ranger guides are experienced in conducting in-field workshops with groups of all ages and abilities.
Cultural Permissions
Our Education Coordinator is both an educationist and an anthropologist.
We work with our cultural advisers to ensure that all Aboriginal content in our programs is both appropriate and respectful, and that any knowledge shared is always with permission.
Tailored for Age and Stage
Our workshops offer combinations of activities including animals, the bush and traditional Aboriginal content.
Our team adapts each workshop for age and ability, as well as special interest areas.
Workshops can be tailored to deliver specific prescribed syllabus-based learning-outcomes. Contact us for a quote. Tell us what you are doing in the classroom, so we can map the day’s experience to the syllabus to ensure you get the learning outcomes you need.
All workshops are adapted and tailored for students of all ages, stages, interest areas and abilities:
- Pre-school
- Primary School – Early Stage 1 and Stages 1, 2 and 3 (kindergarten and years 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Secondary School – Stages 4 and 5 (years 7, 8, 9 and 10)
- Senior School – Stage 6 (years 11 and 12/HSC)
- Students with disabilities and other special needs
- Australian schools with international students seeking a cultural exchange experience
Full Workshop
Ranger-led activities for 2½ hours
Module 1: All workshops include this module
1A “Spikes, Scales, Feathers & Fur”.
Meet the Australian native animals, as well as the farm- and pet-animals, that live in our wildlife sanctuary. Learn how people and animals can share our world fairly and safely.
Module 2: Choose your second module from the following 4 options
1B “Animals Extension” recommended if you want to do more than meet the animals. The Animals Extension allows more time to learn about the animals’ adaptations, habitats and behaviours.
2A “People’s Shelters & Animals’ Homes”
2B “Bush Tools”
2C “Bush Tucker & Bush Medicine”
2D “Bush Tucker & Bush Medicine with Aboriginal Sites Extension” – Year 5 and older
Condensed Workshop – Small Groups or Special Needs
Ranger-led activities for 1½ hours
- 1 x 1½-hour session – designed to make workshops more affordable for small school groups
- 3 x 30-minute sessions with breaks between each – designed for students with behaviour or concentration issues, or intellectual or physical challenges
Teachers guide the students for the balance of the visit.
Choose one, or a combination of, animal encounters, bush soap, boomerang throwing and ochre face-painting.
Deposit and Refund Policy
A $100 deposit secures your booking.
The deposit is non-refundable because, once your booking is confirmed, Walkabout will turn away other bookings (and income) for that day.
In the event of bad weather, your deposit is transferrable to another date or as credit for a future booking.
Wet Weather Policy
Make sure the children and adults bring their rain gear.
Except in extreme weather, the program will go ahead in the rain.
If the weather is expected to be too extreme for the rangers to be able to run the program, or if it might be dangerous, Walkabout will contact you to reschedule your excursion or give you a credit for a future excursion.
If Walkabout does not assess the wet weather conditions as too dangerous but you would like to reschedule anyway, we respect this and will work with you to find an alternate date.
Calga weather patterns are quite different to the Sydney Basin and the Central Coast. It can be pouring with rain down the road in Kariong or Hornsby, but dry in Calga. You can contact Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary up to 5 days before your excursion to make general enquiries about expected weather conditions, with more accurate weather information available 48 hours prior.