Nature's Canvas - day excursion | HPGE Visual Arts Program
Program
Gibberagong Environmental Education Centre's Nature's Canvas – Day Program is a curriculum-aligned High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) visual arts excursion for Years 7–10 students. Set within the spectacular bushland and waterways of Bobbin Head in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, students observe, interpret and respond to the natural environment through drawing, field sketching and experimental mixed media techniques. Guided by specialist visual arts teachers, students explore Aboriginal cultural sites, develop an artist's book and participate in immersive outdoor learning designed to extend creativity, artistic practice and critical thinking within the creative domain of the NSW HPGE framework.
This program is designed for a maximum of 1 class or 30 students who are specifically selected to attend an immersive excursion with an art teacher from your school and work directly with one of our specialist art teachers.
There are a number of different educational experiences available for teachers to book, please contact our centre to discuss which best suits your students.
Key information
Learning activities
Students will participate in a variety of activities. These activities may include:
Drawing foundations
The day commences with the students participating in a series of icebreaking drawing activities and warm-up sketches. These drawings will provide a strong base for the artworks that students will produce as the day progresses. Students will be required to assemble an art kit for their bush walk and begin the construction of an artist book.
Bush walk
During the walk, the students will explore parts of the park and different viewpoints to inspire their artworks. This will also provide them with an opportunity to consider what they value aesthetically in this area. There will be the opportunity to take photographs and record sketches to use later in their artist’s book.
Cultural site visit
The students will visit and learn about important cultural and historical sites, including an Aboriginal engraving site deepening their understanding of landscape, Country and place as artistic inspiration.
Field sketch
The students will visit a lookout with views over the landscape. There they will be required to immerse themselves in nature and complete an artistic sketch to identify the landforms and describe the landscape that shapes this area.
Bush Studio activities
The students will return to the studio to use a range of mixed media to create experimental artworks inspired by their immersion in nature. Students will use aspects of the natural world as a source of ideas, concepts and subject matter for their artmaking.
Mini art exhibition of student artworks in progress
Students will set up a mini exhibition of their artworks in progress for their parents and carers. Students will identify the intention, audience and context for their mini exhibition and display of artworks.
Suggested timetable
| Time | Activity |
| 9.00am | Acknowledgement of Country, Welcome, Overview of the day |
| 9.30am |
Art kit assembly Prelimiinary artist book construction |
| 10.00am | Bushwalk and art immersion |
| 10.30am | Morning Tea (from home) |
| 10.50am | Bushwalk and art immersion cont. |
| 12.30pm | Lunch (from home) |
| 1.10pm | Bush Studio activities incl. mixed media, experiemental artworks |
| 2.00pm | Conclusion and depart |
Syllabus outcomes
Cost and details
| Transport |
Schools are required to organise transport for students to and from the location. Map for access to venue will be sent with the confirmation. |
| Cost |
2026 DoE schools - max 1 class/30 students
2026 Non-gov schools - max 1 class/30 students
|
| Specialist art teacher available dates | *Note: Specialist art teacher is available only on selected dates. |
| Self-guided art excursion |
CAPA teachers are welcome to hire the Gibberagong EEC Building and run their own art immersion program at Bobbin Head making use of the stunning open spaces in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. For available dates contact GEEC. 2026 Government schools
2026 Non-gov schools
|
| Risk assessment | A complete risk assessment will be sent upon confirmation. |
| What to bring | An information package will be sent to the nominated teacher. |
| Teacher support | If you would like additional support with a GEEC teacher please contact the centre. |
| Adverse weather |
On days where the weather is unsuitable (see risk assessment), a Gibberagong staff member will contact the organising teacher to discuss alternative arrangements. Please check your bus company’s cancellation policy. |
| Medical notifications | Notify Gibberagong EEC by completing and returning the medical form before the excursion. This form will be sent out upon confirmation of booking. |
