The In-Betweeners – Keeping the nature connection alive between Age 5 and Stage 5
Details:
12:00 – 12:50 pm
6th of December
Room: 1S-215
Kellie Hall
There are many brilliant Early Childhood programs around Australia for under 5s, and excellent provisions in Secondary schools where Outdoor Education is offered as a subject. But what about the in-betweeners? All too often, once children enter formal schooling their experience of the outdoors is limited to camps. However, there are a myriad of ways to engage Primary and Secondary students in nature and the outdoors through the course of their every day learning – without compromising the curriculum.
In this workshop, Catherine will explore ways that such an approach to teaching and learning is exemplified at The Nature School, and share some of the School’s models and frameworks. She will expand on the Australian Curriculum document on Outdoor Learning to include consideration of other curriculum areas including English and Mathematics. Catherine will also show how the outdoors can become the perfect classroom for integration across subjects, allowing for maximum learning opportunities while reducing assessment load through rich tasks. The session will include authentic samples of both teaching programs and student work at Primary and Secondary levels. And as there is always interest in The Nature School itself, there will be time for general questions at the end.
About the Presenter
Kellie Hall is Assistant Head of School at The Nature School – a unique, progressive independent school in Port Macquarie catering for children in Primary and Secondary school. With 15 years in education, she is a dedicated educator and school leader focused on connecting learners to the natural world. Kellie’s approach emphasises quality, nature-based education with sustainability and community at its core, encouraging students to explore through a risk-benefit, experiential lens. A career highlight was helping to pioneer The Nature School’s Secondary program in 2023, which continues to grow and develop. She also contributed a chapter to an upcoming book on the impact of risk in play and learning during the Secondary years.
As a lifelong environmental advocate, Kellie has travelled widely for outdoor adventures, blending these experiences with her passion for conservation and sustainable living. Her work has taken her internationally, including teaching English as a volunteer in Costa Rica. Kellie’s mission is to inspire future generations to care for the earth and foster innovation toward a sustainable future.
