The Arboretum is home to over 40,000 trees. What do our trees need to survive and thrive? How do we manage to get water to all of our forests? How do we know what to water and when? This guided walk explores the strategies and systems put in place to manage water onsite, with the end goal of having a sustainable water supply. We also look at soil and tree health and how we are dealing with pests and diseases.

Conserving Our Forests is an interactive game where small teams are tasked with creating a thriving woodland ecosystem native to Southeast Australia.

The teams will need to be strategic as they build their ecosystem one tile at a time into a large grid during several rounds. They are multiple strategies that each group could use to build their ecosystem and as they navigate through the game, they will discover the intricate relationships between various species, their habitats, and the delicate balance needed to maintain biodiversity.

The game is not just about winning, but also about understanding the importance of conservation and the role we can play in it.

Each team’s woodland functionality will be scored based on its diversity and the symbiotic relationships they manage to establish. While the team that constructs the most balanced and functional ecosystem will be declared the winner, every team’s ecosystem contributes to the entire group’s understanding of the fascinating and multifaceted aspects involved in forest conservation.

“Conserving Our Forests” is more than just a game; it’s an engaging and interactive learning experience. So, gather your team and let’s start building woodland ecosystems!

The trees we have at the Arboretum come from all over the world, and from climates ranging from the desert to the tropics. This guided walk explores some of the trees planted at the Arboretum, and the various climate zones they are from. We are able to explore how our particular climate is impacting on these trees, and what measures we are taking to ensure they can grow successfully

Trees have common features, but are they all the same? How do these differences help trees to grow and be healthy? This program is a sensory exploration of the trees and plants at the Arboretum, comparing leaves, fruit and seeds. Touch, look, smell and listen as well as exploring some of the trees using shape, texture and colour. Listen to a story in the Bonsai display, and imagine living in a miniature world.

How do trees change through the seasons? What is the impact that different weather can have on trees?

This program uses some of the forests in the Arboretum to explore seasonal change and the direct impact on climate and weather on tree growth and health. 

consider adding kite making as an extension activity for this program.

The National Arboretum Canberra is the perfect place to stop and refresh with the very popular Pod playground, National Bonsai and Penjing display and gardens.  Stay as long as you like to experience the wide open spaces, spectacular views, self guided walking trails and to enjoy lunch. 

Decorate, create and fly your own kite on the grassy amphitheatre at one of Canberra's most scenic locations.  Students take their kites with them to fly again.  We are still able to decorate and assemble the kites if the weather is unsuitable for flying.  

How is the Arboretum being used by the community? What are some of the features, and what are they for?

This program explores the man-made and natural landscapes of the Arboretum, and how these features have been designed for special purposes. Explore some of the different ways the community uses the Arboretum, the activities undertaken, and why it's a significant place.

We are happy to tailor programs specifically for your group, whether to tie in with a specific unit of work or for special activites for groups in the holidays.

Please contact the Education Officer on 02 62078156 to discuss your visit options.

Take advantage of the late evenings, or head out with torches after sunset at the Arboretum and challenge your students in the fun and engaging activity of orienteering.  They will work together to read maps, search for markers and problem solve.  The activities can be adapted to suit the group.

Take advantage of the wide open spaces at the Arboretum and challenge your students in the fun and engaging activity of orienteering.  They will work together to read maps, search for markers and problem solve.  The activities can be adapted to suit the group.

This engaging interactive program will challenge how your students understand and think about forest systems.  Forest ecosystems can be millions of years old, and for centuries the assumption has been that a forest is made up of individual trees and plants.  Scientific research has uncovered that forests are connected through a vast underground fungal network dubbed the Wood Wide Web.
Through a series of activities students will explore the important role forests play in the global carbon cycle, how and why trees collaborate within forest systems, and get tangled in an Australian woodland food web.
 

The POD playground is a highlight of a visit to the National Arboretum Canberra.  Please book your session to ensure you don't miss out.

The POD playground is a highlight of a visit to the National Arboretum Canberra.  Please book your session to ensure that you don't miss out.