News & Events

Maryborough State High School | Semester 2, 2025

HQPlantations has partnered with Maryborough State High School and the Butchulla community to bring forestry, language and culture together in the classroom through the Junior Rangers Butchulla Language Program.

Developed in consultation with the Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC) and its associated Ranger Program, the initiative gave Year 7 students the opportunity to explore sustainable forestry, language, culture and Country through hands-on, place-based learning.

Learning through Culture, Language and Forestry

Across three classroom sessions, HQPlantations staff Tom, Tolita and Sharon introduced students to sustainable wood farming, the seed-to-shelter timber lifecycle and the work of foresters on Country. Lessons were designed to show how forestry supports climate goals, biodiversity and local communities, while also linking to First Nations perspectives and language.

In the first session, students explored sustainable wood farming and the environmental benefits of well-managed forests using ForestLearning’s What is a Forest? classroom game.

The second session focused on the journey from seed to shelter, helping students understand how pine is grown, harvested and transformed into renewable timber products such as framing for houses. Students watched the Seed to Shelter video, then painted their own diagrams to show their understanding of forest lifecycles.

Above: Students painted a seed to shelter diagram which allowed them to express their understanding of raising a seed to maturity and then harvesting and transport of logs to the mill.

The final session was a Learning on Country experience, introducing students to the work of foresters, the plantation cycle, tree measurement and silviculture. Using ForestLearning’s Pine Carbon Storage Tape Measure, students saw firsthand how trees store carbon and contribute to climate solutions.

Cultural Partnership at the Core

The Butchulla Junior Ranger Program is an established initiative led by BNTAC, designed to build young people’s cultural knowledge, language use and connection to Country. Partnering with HQPlantations added a new layer to this learning by connecting traditional knowledge with contemporary land management and industry practice.

The program provided an authentic way to integrate First Nations perspectives with STEM and sustainability, directly supporting the Australian Curriculum priorities of Sustainability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures.

Inspiring Future Pathways

Throughout the program, HQPlantations staff shared insights into forestry careers, helping students see how science, culture and land management intersect in real-world jobs. Feedback from the school was overwhelmingly positive, with students showing a clear interest in the role of forestry in caring for Country.

“This partnership shows how forestry can be a bridge between culture, environment and future careers,” said HQPlantations’ Tolita. “The students were incredibly engaged — they asked great questions and made the connection between what they learn in class and the world around them.”

A Model for Other Schools

The success of this partnership demonstrates how schools can work with local industry and First Nations communities to deliver learning that is authentic, culturally relevant, hands-on and curriculum-aligned.

By combining cultural perspectives with sustainability and STEM, programs like this can help students build a deeper understanding of Australia’s landscapes, industries and cultural heritage, as well as open up career opportunities available on Country.

Explore the resources used in these sessions, and more, at www.forestlearning.edu.au.