Education Adventures
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park is a great choice for Newcastle, Singleton, maitland and central coast school excursions
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park IS BRINGING A FRESH APPROACH TO WILDLIFE EDUCATION
Learning about our natural world, through the lense of the amazing animals that inhabit it is an integral part of every child's development
Rather than reading about habitat loss, geography or HSIE on the pages of a book, a real life experience of the amazing animals that rely on us to protect their world will leave children with an indelible experience. Our hands on learning and keeper talks are fun, educational and inspiring.
Our leafy wildlife park also provides possibilities for teachers to introduce the importance of habitat conservation and habits that the children can adopt in their daily lives to help our natural environment. Learning won't just start and end when the children head through the gates at Hunter Valley Wildlife Park, our teacher resources mean that you can provide fun activities to tie in with your curriculum for weeks before and after your visit.
We believe that conservation begins with educating the next generation from a young age, and that is what a Hunter Valley Wildlife Park Excursion can do for your preschool, school, or community group.
A UNIQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Our hands-on approach to learning about Australian and international wildlife has a far greater chance of being absorbed in children’s minds that traditional classroom activities.
Our immersive on-site education experiences offer so much more than an incursion, with children being completely surrounded by animals in their own habitats. It's only by becoming a part of their world for a short time that most children will deeply understand the importance of all elements of biodiversity and how reliant creatures are on their surroundings.
We’re also happy to welcome home-school groups, Out of School Care groups, scouts, guides, high school, TAFE and University groups and other community groups for educational experiences at Featherdale Sydney. Please contact us in advance to make the most of your visit.
Studies on learner retention have shown time and again that people who participate in an activity can have up to a 70% greater chance at retaining that knowledge than if they are involved in passive forms of learning.
Hunter Valley EDUCATION ADVENTURES
your education adventure includes:
Download TEACHER Resources
let us take the stress out of your school excursion
Our comprehensive teacher’s pack includes:
For smaller groups of primary aged students who have a specific passion for animals, these encounters may be a great option.
FIND OUT MORE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE YOUR EDUCATION EXCURSION PRICES FOR SCHOOL GROUPS?
$20 per student, $15 for additional adult helpers.
CAN STUDENTS HOLD, PAT OR CUDDLE A KOALA AS PART OF THEIR EDUCATION ADVENTURE AT HUNTER VALLEY WILDLIFE PARK?
Guests cannot hold a Koala. It is against the law in the State of New South Wales to hold a Koala without the appropriate accreditation, however they will be able to get close to a koala and may have a chance to pat a Koala.
HOW MANY TEACHERS OR OTHER ADULTS NEED TO ACCOMPANY STUDENTS ON HUNTER VALLEY WILDLIFE PARK SCHOOL EXCURSIONS?
FOC:1:10 Students.
DO WE NEED TO BOOK OUR SCHOOL EXCURSIONS IN ADVANCE?
Yes. Please download the Teacher’s Pack with booking form and ensure your booking is confirmed prior to your excursion. We schedule additional keepers to ensure your students maximise their learning experience.
DO YOU HAVE AN EXCURSION RISK ASSESSMENT?
We sure do have a risk assessment. It's in our downloadable teacher's resources, ready to save you time and hassle.
Excursion Enquiry Form
Keeper talks
We have a full schedule of keeper talks daily, so you can hear more about penguins, pelicans, echidnas and so many more of the amazing Featherdale animal family.
MEET OUR FAMILY
PLAINS ZEBRA
Zebras are a highly social species, living in complex social systems. See zebra herds in NSW at Mogo Wildlife Park and Hunter Valley Wildlife Park
MEET OUR FAMILY
Tasmanian Devil
Tasmanian Devils are primarily solitary animals, living in territories that may intersect other individual’s territories. Each territory will have 3-4 dens, which can be utilised for years, especially by females with young.
MEET OUR FAMILY
Binturong
Binturongs, with their prehensile tails, dark fur, and mysterious demeanor, appear almost mythical, evoking a sense of enchantment and intrigue.
MEET OUR FAMILY
Dingo
Dingoes do not bark as is the case with domestic dogs. The alpha male and female will usually be the only breeding pair in the pack, with other subordinate members assisting in the rearing of pups.
MEET OUR FAMILY
Meerkats
Meerkats have a complex social structure where each meerkat has a role to play within the mob.
MEET OUR FAMILY
Cheetah
This large and slender cheetah is distributed across more than 25 African countries, boasting a population of around 12,000.
MEET OUR FAMILY
Lorikeet
Calling all bird lovers to our walk through Lorikeet enclosure. Enjoy our stunning Lorikeets flying around and possibly even landing on you!
MEET OUR FAMILY
Lion
Lions can run at about 55km/h but their prey average around 80km/h, they must get as close as possible to their dinner without being seen
MEET OUR FAMILY
Wombat
Common Wombats are a short, robust marsupial native to south-east Australia and Tasmania
MEET OUR FAMILY
RING-TAILED LEMUR
Ring Tiled Lemurs 'sun worship' which means they face their tummies to the sun and stretch their arms out wide to warm themselves up.
MEET OUR FAMILY
Koala
Koalas are not a bear, but are in fact a marsupial. Koalas have thick fur that ranges from very light to very dark grey on the head and body, with white patching on the bottom, chest and ears.
MEET OUR FAMILY
DROMEDARY CAMEL
The Domedary Camel has a single hump, which stores fat the Camel can break down when resources are scarce.
volunteer with us
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park provides volunteer opportunities for those wanting industry-level experience working with native wildlife.
TAFE STUDENTS AND TERTIARY STUDENTS
This program provides entry into the Exhibited Animal industry, rotating volunteers through different Animal Care departments. We will give priority to students currently studying Exhibited Animals or Animal Studies at TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation as a tertiary student, or university students studying zoological studies.
A successful applicant is someone who possesses the following:
· Passion for animals, driven and energetic.
· Interest in working in the Exhibited Animal Industry.
· Availability and commitment to volunteering at least one day per week
(7:00 am-4:00 pm), including public holidays and NSW school holidays.
We are seeking candidates with the ability to:
– Follow directions and have good communication
– Work unsupervised and in a team environment
– Perform physical tasks, including extended periods of raking and lifting
– Work in all weather conditions
HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
Please note that Hunter Valley Wildlife Park does not offer work experience to High School students. Our team will communicate any future changes to our programme here.
If you’d like to help us keep up the good work by chipping in some hard-earned dollars or arranging a bequest to carry on your legacy, please make a donation.
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