Numinbah Valley Environmental Education Centre

07/09/2026

On Friday, we welcomed Anne Connelly from Ambrose Treacy College and Mick Law from South Brisbane Secondary College to NVEEC for a day focused on reviewing and refining our Senior Geography IA2 fieldwork at Hinze Dam.

Getting into the field together was invaluable. Travelling by canoe and then on foot, we explored the Old Farm landscape and considered how students can more clearly investigate the story of land-cover transformation — from native forest, through historic clearing and agriculture, to the very different biophysical conditions that developed after farming ceased, and the restoration work occurring today.

A highlight was accessing an area of remnant forest immediately adjacent to the Old Farm, giving us some exciting new possibilities for how students experience and investigate the landscape. We also made the climb to the ridgeline, where the view across the Old Farm and Hinze Dam really helped put the site and its history into perspective.

Back at NVEEC, we finished the day reviewing our fieldwork booklets and discussing how we can refine the sequence and focus of the investigation.

A very productive day and a great example of the value of bringing classroom Geography teachers and NVEEC staff together in the field to test ideas, share expertise and continue improving the experience we provide for students.

24/08/2026

🌿 Learning comes to life in nature! 🌿
It was wonderful to see the amazing Prep students from Clover Hill State School exploring and immersing themselves in wildlife and nature. Experiencing hands-on learning, asking curious questions, and making lifelong connections makes adventures like this so meaningful.
We love seeing our local students thrive when curiosity is amplified by nature!

23/08/2026

🌱 Come Hold Tight With Us — One More Time in 2026!

The NVEEC P&C's fourth and final Numinbah – Holding Tight Community Field Day for 2026 is coming up on Sunday 13th September, and we’d love you to join us.

After six years of community planting, we're now closing in on an incredible milestone — 20,000 native tube stock planted since the project began in 2020. Come along and help us add the next few hundred! 🌳

Whether you've been part of Holding Tight from the early days, joined us for the first time this year, or have always thought about coming along, this is the perfect morning to get involved.

📅 Sunday 13th September 2026
⏰ 8:30–10:30am
📍 Gold Coast Model Flying Club, Numinbah Valley

✔️ No experience required
✔️ Gloves, equipment and training provided
✔️ Please bring a hat, water bottle and enclosed shoes
✔️ Children are welcome but must be supervised by a responsible adult

These field days are about more than putting plants in the ground. They're an opportunity to connect with place and with others in a friendly, welcoming environment, while making a genuine contribution to restoring the Numinbah Valley.

And once the work is done, we'll finish the morning the Holding Tight way, with a well-earned community morning tea! It’s the perfect chance to catch up, share stories and enjoy the company of those you’ve spent the morning working alongside. ☕🍰

🌿 Bring a friend, bring the family, or simply bring yourself. Help us finish the 2026 planting season on a high — and perhaps put that 20,000th plant in the ground together! 🌱💚

🎟️ Register here (and find out more):
https://events.humanitix.com/numinbah-holding-tight-linking-springbrook-and-lamington-national-park

🌊 The Numinbah – Holding Tight project wouldn't be possible without the ongoing support of our principal project partner, Seqwater.

P&Cs Qld
Queensland Department of Education
Watergum
Landcare Australia
National Tree Day
Glenn TOZER for Mudgeeraba & Hinterland (Division 9)
Ros Bates MP

16/08/2026

Our Mastery Schools students recently explored NVEEC’s new Water Reflection Learning Space at Hinze Dam before following our new bush trail into Waterfall Creek, one of the waterways that feeds the dam.
Along the journey, students investigated signs of erosion, examined water quality, and explored the connections between humans, wildlife, and the environment. By tracing the path of water through the landscape, they gained a deeper understanding of how healthy catchments support ecosystems, communities, and our future.
Learning in the places where these processes occur helps students build meaningful connections with the natural world and inspires them to become environmental stewards.
🌱💧🐸

26/07/2026

🌳 What a fantastic way to celebrate National Tree Day! 🌱💚

Our third Numinbah – Holding Tight Community Field Day for 2026 brought together our biggest volunteer crew of the year, with more than 30 volunteers enjoying a beautiful winter's morning.

🌱 Together we planted 339 native tube stock, carefully watered them in, and moved one step closer to an exciting milestone- 20,000 native plants established since the project began in 2020. With just one community field day remaining for 2026, we're on track to reach that incredible achievement together.

One of the highlights of the morning was seeing familiar faces helping to lead the day while welcoming new volunteers into the Holding Tight community. It was also wonderful to see former students and teachers return, this time bringing their own families along to lend a hand.

A big thank you to Seqwater Catchment Rangers Matt and Mitch, who once again rolled up their sleeves to help with the planting while sharing their knowledge and stories of the Nerang River catchment.

We were also delighted to welcome back our unofficial Holding Tight photographer, Kalindi Brennan, who captured the morning and caught up with many familiar faces.

☕ And, as always, our legendary NVEEC P&C Morning Tea Angels outdid themselves. The delicious spread gave everyone the chance to slow down, reconnect and celebrate another successful morning together.

💚 Thank you to everyone who joined us. Every volunteer, every seedling and every field day strengthens both our community and this remarkable landscape.

Our final Holding Tight Community Field Day for 2026 will be held on Sunday 13th September. We'd love you to join us as we work towards the milestone of 20,000 native plants and finish another incredible year together.

🌊 This project wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our principal project partner, Seqwater.

P&CsP&Cs Qld
Queensland Department of Education
Landcare Australia
National Tree Day
Planet Ark
Watergum
Glenn TOZER for Mudgeeraba & Hinterland (Division 9)
Ros Bates MP

25/07/2026

Want to plant a tree for National Tree Day?

Want to get out and connect to country while enjoying this amazing winter weather?

Come and join the NVEEC P&C this morning for our Numinbah Holding Tight project!

📍Gold Coast Model Flying Club- Numinbah Valley (type into Goggle Maps)

To register and for more details, follow the link:

https://events.humanitix.com/numinbah-holding-tight-linking-springbrook-and-lamington-national-park

17/07/2026

❤️💛🖤 💙🤍💚

Yesterday we came together for our term 3 RAP meeting. Starting with a beautiful Welcome to Country out on Country from Clinton.
Tom then led us through some different techniques he had been taught to create fire.
Working together we successfully started a fire 🔥 to sit around.
Kirstein had prepared dampers with and without cheese for us to cook on the fire 🔥 then enjoy with a variety of bunya nut butter, lemon myrtle spread and Ooray jam.
Everyone enjoyed the simple connection back with lots of stories, laughter and sharing.
Our formal RAP rmeeting chaired by Mel was held inside looking at our vision and where we would like to continue to go as a community.
Linda, Glen and Clintons Cultural insights, knowledge and sharing is always such a valuable experience for us all.
We concluded with a shared lunch made by Kerstein utilizing Bush Tucker flavours.
Everyone walked away with the amazing connection we all share from these fantastic days.

13/07/2026

🌳 Celebrate National Tree Day with us! 🌱

This year, our third Numinbah – Holding Tight Community Field Day proudly coincides with National Tree Day- 26th July 2026!

Whether you've planted with us before or this will be your very first time, National Tree Day is the perfect opportunity to get involved.

Join the NVEEC P&C and become part of a community working together to restore the beautiful Numinbah Valley.

Since 2020, volunteers of all ages have helped plant more than 19,000 native tube stock, creating wildlife habitat, strengthening the ecological connection between Springbrook and Lamington National Parks, and improving the health of the upper Nerang River catchment.

📅 Sunday 26th July
⏰ 8:30–10:30am
📍 Gold Coast Model Flying Club, Numinbah Valley

✔️ No experience required
✔️ Gloves and training provided
✔️ Please bring a hat, water bottle and enclosed shoes
✔️ Children must be supervised by a responsible adult
☕ Community morning tea provided

Bring a friend, bring the kids, or simply bring yourself. We'd love to welcome you for another morning of community, conservation and connection in the Numinbah Valley. 🌱💚

🎟️ Register here (and find out more):
https://events.humanitix.com/numinbah-holding-tight-linking-springbrook-and-lamington-national-park

🌊 This project wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our principal project partner, Seqwater.

P&Cs Qld
Queensland Department of Education
Watergum
Landcare Australia
National Tree Day
Planet Ark
Glenn TOZER for Mudgeeraba & Hinterland (Division 9)
Ros Bates MP

Join our Holding Tight community field day to help restore habitat linking Springbrook and Lamington National Parks. Free, hands-on conservation event.

16/06/2026

QLD Native Food Festival 🖤💛❤️

Mel and Kerstein, along with Cat and Brighid went along to an early morning Bush Flavoured Breakfast.

They heard from First Nations chefs Dale Chapman, Chris Jordan and Mindy Woods in conversation around First flavours, native foods and cultural connections to food - inspiring discussions, with a great question and answer session.

The food was just delicious and we all enjoyed amazing food and company.

We were able to watch First Nations cultural performances, cooking demonstrations using native ingredients, and stroll through markets with stalls owned by First Nations people selling their items.

It was great to see our youth ambassadors there either working or supporting. As well as our First Nations Cultural mentors supporting the day. 💚🤍💙 ❤️💛🖤

A great morning out connecting with everyone

10/06/2026

Last week the annual Partnership for Numinbah Valley Stakeholder Discussion, facilitated by Watergum, was held at NVEEC for the very first time.

Representatives from Seqwater, City of Gold Coast, Queensland National Parks, DETSI, Numinbah Valley Landcare and other environmental organisations came together to share updates on the many projects occurring across the valley — all contributing in different ways to catchment and source water protection for the Nerang River system. From revegetation and landslip remediation to invasive species management, water quality monitoring and habitat restoration, a huge range of work is occurring behind the scenes across the valley.

When it was NVEEC's time to share, we spoke about our role as connectors and storytellers within the catchment - sharing the stories of the organisations working to protect the valley through our teaching programs, while also creating opportunities for students and the wider community to directly connect with the catchment through our Numinbah - Holding Tight community field days.

We’re incredibly proud to be included in conversations like these. While many organisations are doing important environmental work across the valley, NVEEC engages with the catchment in a very different way - connecting students, volunteers and the wider community directly to the landscape through hands-on learning and restoration experiences.

A huge thank you to our wonderful cook Kerstein Trueman for preparing an incredible bush-inspired morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for attendees throughout the day.

It was a fantastic day of collaboration, conversation and shared commitment to the future of the Numinbah Valley.

Queensland Department of Education
Queensland Environment
Glenn TOZER for Mudgeeraba & Hinterland (Division 9)
Ros Bates MP
Landcare Australia
Land for Wildlife South East Queensland