In brief:

• The ACT Government launched its free camps program in February this year.
• ACT public school students can access one free camp at Birrigai during their primary years.
• By the end of the 2025 school year, the program is set to deliver 58 camps for around 4100 students.

By the end of the 2025 school year, around 4100 ACT public school students will have attended a free camp at Birrigai.

Since the initiative was announced in February, more than 1700 students from 25 participating schools have attended a camp. By the end of term 4, Birrigai is projected to have delivered a further 33 camps for about 2400 students.

The free camps program

The program ensures every primary school student at an ACT public school can attend one free camp at Birrigai during their primary school years.

The 2025-26 Budget provided funding for the initiative over four years.

Plans for 2026

Planning for 2026 free camps are well underway with all eligible schools already booked in. Forward bookings indicate all eligible schools will have received one free camp by the end of 2026.

Birrigai offers different programs aligned with the curriculum. Themes include:

• First Nations histories and culture
• outdoor adventure and science
• science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities.

Outdoor activities are central to the experience. On camp, students may take part in:

• adventure bush walks
• team-building exercises like team treks and rope courses
• campfires, damper cooking and seed grinding (and enjoying Birrigai biscuits)
• challenges such as the crate climb, vertical playpen and giant’s ladder
• a connection to Country experience with Birrigai Aboriginal rangers
• learning about plants and living creatures, including kangaroos, emus, yabbies, Bogong moths and Muliyan (eagles)
• arts and craft – from sketching their environment to building a shelter
• play-based learning, storytelling and singing
• self-directed exploration
• collecting data as part of Birrigai’s ongoing EcoSurvey.

School camps support curriculum delivery, student wellbeing and a positive school culture.

Read more like this:

• A glimpse into free school camps at Birrigai
• Free camps for ACT public primary schools
• What’s on these spring school holidays

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