phone 07 5533 3622 | email functions@binnaburralodge.com.au | web www.binnaburralodge.com.au

at Historic Binna Burra Lodge

SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES

SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES AT HISTORIC BINNA BURRA LODGE

Complemented by the unique surroundings of Lamington National Park, Binna Burra Lodge and

Campsite offers a memorable and fun experience for you and your students.

Education providers have been bringing groups up to this natural wonderland for over 60

years, which has resulted in a highly experienced and passionate team to help you achieve

your camp and educational goals.

Students are provided opportunities to learn about and become immersed in the diverse

environments first hand in our multi-faceted, flexible activity program which also provides

opportunities to build trust, leadership, cooperation and initiative.

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS There are four different styles of budget accommodation to select from, available for both students and teachers.

GROOMS COTTAGE (Environmental Education Centre)

Stay in Arthur Grooms original cottage

78 years ago, Arthur Groom (co-founder of Binna Burra)

built this wonderful cottage as his family home. The

cottage has been preserved, and is a charming facility

for large or small groups.

This rustic timber cottage has an adjacent four-room

bunkhouse with a total of 36 beds (9 beds in each). It is a

perfect facility for University & School groups. The

bunkhouse rooms are basic and just a stone’s throw

away you’ll find showers and toilets, gas barbeque, plate

washup area, coin operated clothes washing/drying

facilities. Accommodation at the Cottage itself

comprises 7 single beds and vanities in two upstairs

rooms, making it an ideal accommodation for teachers,

leaders or parents. Grooms Cottage is equipped with

kitchenette facilities including fridge-freezer, stove,

microwave and wood-burner.

ON-SITE SAFARI TENTS In the campgrounds Binna Burra offers 15 safari tents,

accommodating up to 48 students. These include 11 x 6

man, 1 x 4 man and 3 x 2 man tents which consist of a

double bed, bunks or single beds. The safari tents have a

light, fly screen windows, side tables and a verandah with

table and chairs.

CAMPING For a more adventurous style camp, students have the

opportunity to supply their own tents. The Rainforest

Campsite has undercover BBQ areas with picnic tables,

and coin operated BBQs are available for groups to use.

Fire pits are permanently placed in the camping and

safari tent areas. Firewood can be purchased from Binna

Burra.

Amenities include hot and cold showers, toilets, coin

operated laundry and wash up area.

Mountain Lodge accommodation is also available.

Enquire with our Groups Coordinator for prices:

functions@binnaburralodge.com.au or call 07 5533 3622.

CATERING Breakfast and dinner are served at the Lamington Teahouse. Lunch and morning/afternoon tea is

served as takeaway.

BREAKFAST Continental breakfast includes a selection of cereals, toast with condiments, fresh fruit, orange &

apple juice, hot chocolate.

Hot breakfast, choice of bacon, egg, sausage, tomatoes and mushrooms.

LUNCH Takeaway rolls with choice of:

1. Ham and salad

2. Chicken and salad

3. Cheese and salad

Lunch includes a piece of whole fruit, and a home-baked biscuit.

Drinks extra – bottled water $1.50, bottled juice $3 each.

MORNING OR AFTERNOON TEA

Fresh piece of fruit with a home-baked biscuit.

DINNER All served with salads (coleslaw, potato, tossed) or vegetables.

Choose from one of the following:

1. Fish and chips

2. Spaghetti Bolognaise

3. Crumbed chicken schnitzel

4. Beef or vegetarian lasagne

5. Pizza and salad.

DESSERT Choose from one of the following:

1. Seasonal fresh fruit salad

2. Chocolate mousse

3. Vanilla ice-cream and topping

4. Served with milk or Milo, and tea/coffee for teachers.

Changes to the menu will result in additional charges.

Students and Teachers- $56 per day

ACTIVITIES ABSEILING Abseiling is a great personal challenge, an activity that takes participants out of their comfort

zone while remaining extremely safe. Abseiling is also a team challenge as it is the support of the

team that provides the encouragement that many participants need to succeed. Abseiling is

offered on two levels. An introductory level using one of two 10 metre cliffs and advanced levels

at 40m and 90m. Recommended for 8 years and above.

FLYING FOX Whoosh through the trees on our 165 metre flying fox situated 20 minutes walk from the Lodge in

Bellbird Clearing. Our Flying Fox is an exhilarating and challenging experience. All flyers are

securely and safely harnessed to a pulley system. Our instructors are responsible for attaching

flyers to the pulley, but the descending and subsequent recycling of the pulley requires

teamwork. It is possible to introduce other challenges on the flying fox including blindfolds, night

flying and the incorporation of it as part of a circuit of initiative games.

Recommended for 8 years and above.

LOW ROPES COURSE A series of wires and ropes set up in the trees (about 30-50cm high) where the students work in

small groups to help each person achieve personal goals (e.g. balance, trust, communication)

while getting across the activities.

Recommended for 8 years and above.

HIGH ROPES COURSE The High Ropes increases the challenge by elevating the activity 5-7 metres above the ground.

There are three elements of varying degrees of difficulty. Each involves ascending a rope ladder

and completing a traverse of a cable or ladder between trees. Participants are in a harness and

attached to a safety line operated by one of our guides or preferably, two of the other team

members. Training is given in the operation of safety ropes. The High Ropes tests trust between team

members as well as the team’s ability to provide moral support and engender enthusiasm.

Individuals are challenged to a high degree by the height and the difficulty. This is an excellent

activity for groups with physically active people but is also suitable for groups that need to be

challenged outside their comfort zone. Recommended for 12 years and above.

INITIATIVE GAMES These games vary according to the needs of the students. The objective of the initiative games is to

test a groups ability to respond to the challenge of a problem that is completely removed from

normal tasks. Most are not threatening in a physical sense and are therefore suitable for all groups.

These games are presented individually or as part of a more complex scenario involving rogaining,

bushwalking, or a series of initiative games. The range of initiative games is endless but the following

are a sample of some of the popular ones: Billy on a Pinnacle, The Canyon Bridge, Islands, Blind

Leading the Blind, Blind Tent Pitch. Recommended for all ages.

ARCHERY Learn the medieval sport and one of the oldest sports in the world. By the end you may even be

able to split an arrow like Robin Hood, or shoot an apple off your guides head like William Tell.

Recommended for all ages.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ACTIVITIES Eco talk – Binna Burra Lodge is a recognised world leader in eco-tourism practices. There

is a group discussion and tour of the Lodge operations. You will learn why we are

‘Advanced Eco-Tourism’ accredited with ‘Eco-Tourism Australia’.

Earth walk – A guided walk in the rainforest using the five senses to discover and learn about

the intimacies of the natural environment rather than facts and figures.

Senses Trail – A chance for the children to lead/guide their blindfolded friends in small groups along a track that has a

rope as a guide. A great group-work activity where they are also discovering the rainforest in their own way.

Dip netting – The children will research and inspect the residents of the small pond in Bellbird Clearing. Using nets

they try to find the animals that live there and work out what type of water we have running down from the

mountains.

Environmental Awareness activities are recommended for all ages.

Other team activities include initiative games run by our Guest Activity staff, Rainforest Art, and Bush Survival.

NIGHT ACTIVITIES • Spotlight walk investigating nocturnal animals with special red filtered spotlights.

• Campfire night with billy tea, damper and story telling.

• Full moon flying fox

• Trivia and quiz nights

• Theatre presentations

EDUCATION PROGRAMS Binna Burra offers three styles of camp programs: Environmental & Sustainability, Leadership, and Biological

Science. Each of these different orientations can be tailored to meet your curriculum. If a particular learning

objective is required for the class, please advise our staff before commencement of the camp and this can be

incorporated in the program to deliver the required outcomes. Call for further information on specific courses.

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION PROGRAM The objective here is to promote environmental awareness

to all students and to update teachers and guardians for

them to understand how their actions influence and impact

all aspects of our dynamic environment.

Outcomes are achieved by students undertaking guided

interpretative walks to witness the delicate natural

ecosystems that are in equilibrium within different forest

communities. The process is reinforced with games and

activities that require teamwork and build upon the basic

knowledge of environmental processes. Activities are set

based on the age and expected knowledge level of the

students.

Students are then educated on the link between

environmental awareness and sustainability. By the

completion of every activity at camp including shower and

meal times, students will learn how their environmental

impacts contribute to sustainability and why it is important.

Efficient use and conservation of water is

demonstrated and explained through Binna

Burra’s own water supply from the Coomera

River. Students are also provided with insights into

a well established recycling program for

cardboard, glass and aluminium cans and

complex worm farm with a tour of these facilities,

and an explanation of how they work and their

importance to Binna Burra.

The knowledge gained from completion of the

program, both entertaining and educational will

empower students to apply the principles in the

larger context at home, at school and for the

future.

LEADERSHIP SCHOOL CAMP Leadership is a vital skill for children and

teenagers to help them grow in confidence

throughout their school years and prepare them

for life. The leadership camp at Binna Burra

teaches students how to work together and

effectively communicate in a group environment.

To encourage the best results, students are

separated from their usual social groups and

provided the opportunity to work and interact

with students they normally wouldn’t. The exercise

ultimately teaches students how to work outside

their comfort zone, a life-skill that is highly

regarded as students develop in their careers.

Students may be challenged, but in a controlled

and regulated program.

All activities are underpinned with a team

building theme and structured to the specific

desired outcomes. Activities can include high or

low ropes, abseiling, problem solving games, self

navigated walks and orienteering. All students

benefit, because as well as identifying those

students who are natural leaders, it also provides

students the opportunity to learn from each

other how to cooperate in a team.

Students will derive a sense of purpose and have

a sense of achievement as they have the

opportunity to get to know each other in a

relaxed environment while having heaps of fun. The

effective communication skills and knowledge of group

dynamics gained by completion of the leadership camp

will enable the students to contribute more fully in the

school environment and also help prepare them for their

next step in life.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE SCHOOL CAMP Lamington National Park protects many species of rare,

vulnerable and endangered species listed under various

government legislations. Binna Burra’s location adjacent to

this World Heritage-listed area provides an opportunity to

conduct activities where it is possible to observe many of

these species in their natural habitat.

Students are provided with the proper equipment and

instruction for the correct procedures required to undertake

activities such as bird watching, frogging, dip netting and

spotlighting. Specific programs can be developed and

complemented by team members with relevant expertise

to maximize the learning capacity.

On completion of the camp, students will have an

understanding of the different plant & animal groups and

species and how the relationships of these diverse groups

contribute to the environment.

phone 07 5533 3622 | email functions@binnaburralodge.com.au | web www.binnaburralodge.com.au

at Historic Binna Burra Lodge

SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES