Nature's canvas
Day program for secondary HPGE Visual arts
Program
Nature's canvas art day program is a visual arts excursion for HPGE students in Years 7-10. The 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. The program is designed for those considering further studies in visual arts and who express high potential in this area. Students will observe, interpret and respond to their immediate environment at Bobbin Head in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Our specialist art teachers have worked with many students and share their knowledge and enthusiasm of art and nature through practise. Students will be encouraged to fully immerse themselves in the natural world and use nature as their source of inspiration.
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:
Introductory drawing challenges
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 sites visit
The students will visit and learn about important cultural and historical sites, including an Aboriginal engraving site to learn about the cultural value of the landscape and landforms to the traditional owners of the area.
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 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. |
