Connecting Students with Nature
In today’s urbanised and technology-driven world, children have fewer opportunities to interact with nature than ever before. Schools are busier, playgrounds are often concrete or sub-par, and much of childhood happens indoors. At Pond Works we’ve seen firsthand how a natural water feature can transform a school environment, creating a space where students explore, discover, and connect with the world around them.
One project that truly illustrates this is the Kallangur State School Ecosystem Pond in Brisbane, Queensland completed in November 2025. What makes this project special is that it didn’t start as a capital works project. It started as a Grade 5 persuasive writing assignment. Students asked for a water feature, explaining why it would help them learn, have fun and connect with nature.
The principal, Andrew Swailes, recognised the educational and wellbeing potential of the idea and championed the project, helping make it possibly the first of its kind in a Brisbane school setting.
A Living Classroom
The project involved creating a fully functioning ecosystem pond and stream system. The main stream has two sections — one approximately 12 metres long and the other about 9 metres — meandering into a central pond measuring 5m by 4m. A second stream on the opposite side of the wetland completes the circulation, giving students multiple areas to explore.
We also built a hardwood sleeper bridge to replace a concrete footpath, along with a stone-set beach entry, providing safe, hands-on access to the water. These access points allow students to explore the ecosystem, observe wildlife, and engage with the water safely.
To bring the ecosystem to life, aquatic plants were selected to support water quality, oxygenation, and biodiversity. Fish and a couple of turtles were introduced, creating a balanced, observable ecosystem that allows students to learn about nature, biology, and ecological processes firsthand. The system relies on natural filtration and low-maintenance processes, meaning it thrives sustainably while remaining a rich educational resource for years to come.
Safety Meets Learning
Safety was a key consideration throughout the design. In Queensland, school ponds cannot exceed 200mm in depth, and smaller rocks must be fixed to prevent hazards. To meet these requirements while maintaining an engaging, hands-on experience, we installed a stainless steel safety grid beneath the pond surface at 200mm depth. This allows students to safely explore the ecosystem and observe fish, turtles, and aquatic plants in a controlled environment.
We also selected rounded, smooth rocks wherever possible and secured smaller stones where possible to minimise risk. While natural spaces carry some inherent variability, these measures create a safe environment that supports exploration and learning, giving children the opportunity to interact with a thriving aquatic ecosystem with confidence.
Collaboration That Made It Possible
The project was delivered by Pond Works, with construction led by Mark Jones and his right hand man Sean Callinan. Close collaboration with school leadership and early engagement with regulatory requirements ensured that safety, accessibility and educational value were all addressed from the outset.
How Students Are Using the Pond
The most rewarding part of this project is seeing students interact with the pond. Children like to spend time there during lunchtime, choosing it over other parts of the playground. They watch the fish, spot the turtles, race floating boats and delight in the small wonders of water and wildlife.
It’s reminiscent of childhoods spent exploring the local creeks which is something many children growing up in urban areas no longer experience. The pond offers a safe, structured way for students to connect with nature, explore scientific concepts and enjoy unstructured play.
Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Many describe it as the “perfect place to relax and enjoy” particularly for children who aren’t drawn to organised sports on the oval. Teachers have noticed this engagement too, and often enjoy their playground duties more when supervising this area, appreciating how the space encourages curiosity, calm and enjoyment.
Benefits for Schools
Projects like the Kallangur State School Ecosystem Pond offer numerous benefits for schools:
- Hands-on learning: Students can explore biology, ecology, and environmental science firsthand.
- Wellbeing and mindfulness: Water and natural spaces promote calm, reduce stress and give children space to recharge
- Inclusivity: Accessible design allows all students to engage with the environment
- Flexibility: Provides a non-competitive, engaging space for children who may prefer quieter activities over sports.
- Community engagement: A unique feature that can involve teachers, parents and local community groups in educational programs.
Lessons for Educators
If you’re considering a water feature or pond at your school, here are some key takeaways from our experience:
- Involve students early as their ideas can inspire meaningful projects.
- Safety and learning can coexist with thoughtful design and compliance planning.
- Multiple access points and inclusive design ensure all students can participate.
- Use plants and natural filtration to create a sustainable, low maintenance ecosystem.
- Collaborate closely with contractors who understand both construction and educational requirements.
Final Thoughts
The Kallangur State School pond and stream started as a simple student idea and became a living classroom, offering children a rare chance to connect with nature every day. Projects like this demonstrate how schools can create environments that promote learning, wellbeing and curiosity all while staying safe and accessible.
For schools, early learning centres and kindergartens, natural water features can be far more than decoration. They are educational tools, wellbeing spaces and places of inspiration that help children grow, explore and enjoy their school environment in ways that many of us remember from our own childhoods.
If you’re interested in exploring what an ecosystem pond or stream could look like at your school, Pond Works can help guide you from concept to completion, ensuring safety, accessibility and ongoing maintenance for a thriving interactive ecosystem.