North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre

Where is the North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre?

North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre (NKIEEC) is uniquely located on North Keppel Island — a national park island wholly situated within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area near the Capricorn Coast, Central Queensland.

The island and its surrounding waters have exceptionally high educational, amenity and natural values. Examples include:

Nine individual beaches Numerous fringing coral reefs Two major tidal creek areas Mangrove communities Low closed woodland

Four marine environments Extensive grassland communities Eucalypt-dominated open forests

NKIEEC has a history of habitation by the Kanomi people dating back some 4000 years. The physical remains of traditional occupation provide a resource for education with curriculum support material.

The North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre is the inaugural winner of the Premier's Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management — Community Contributions.

What does the North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre provide?

The 25 buildings of the failed tourist resort are now recycled to support environmental and outdoor education programs for groups of up to 50 people, and include a modern kitchen, five accommodation cabins for groups, dry laboratory, administration, core staff accommodation and classroom and the centre owns and operates its own watercraft.

Every residential program conducted at the centre is different and matched to support the range of identified client needs — from preschool through to university level.

Professional development programs in the area of outdoor and environmental education can also be catered for.

A range of activities include snorkelling, evening plankton trawls, alternative energy studies, outrigging, cultural activities, energy, waste and water management, minimal impact living, environmental art, storytelling, manta towing, aquaria activities and environmental issue resolution.

Further information and contact details

Education Queensland Schools Directory —North Keppel Island Environmental Education Centre new window