Dr Sarah Pye is an adventurer, author, educator and puppeteer. She is passionate about using narratives and hands-on activities to  engage others with wildlife and help them tell their own stories.

Sarah’s presentations and workshops for children revolve around her Wildlife Wong series for ages 8-12, which was shortlisted for the Australian Educational Publishing Awards in 2022. The first book in the series, Wildlife Wong and the Sun Bear, was also an award-winning finalist in the Children's Non-Fiction category of the 2021 International Book Awards. They align with English, HASS and Science curriculums and offer endless touchpoints.

Sarah is based in Southeast Queensland, but she delivers her talks and workshops globally (both in-person and online) to children and adults at preschools, schools, libraries, community groups and festivals.

Workshops for children:

What sort of animal am I? (Prep-Year 4, 1 hour)

Students learn about rainforest animals including sun bears, orangutans, pygmy elephants, bearded pigs and Sumatran rhinos through storytelling, puppetry and a multimedia presentation. They then embrace their ‘inner animal’ and paint or colour an animal mask to take home. 

The coolest animals you never knew existed (Year 3-6, 1 hour)

This workshop starts with a multimedia presentation introducing some of the coolest rainforest animals on earth. Then students become part of the action: using puppets to act out a story from Wildlife Wong and the Fig Wasp. 

Rainforest in a Jar (Year 3-7, I hour)

Sarah explores themes of biodiversity by introducing the hero of the rainforest: the mighty fig wasp, without whom many of the other rainforest animals would simply not exist. She explains how a rainforest system works before students make their very own mini rainforest, or terrarium, to take home. 

Am I as clever as an orangutan? (Year 4-7, 1 hour)

Students listen to a story from Wildlife Wong and the Orangutan about the naughty orangutan who stole Wong’s keys. They discuss opposable thumbs (an orangutan and human superpower), then go outside and raid the gardener’s green waste pile to try and build orangutan nests! Pongo the orangutan puppet tries them out for comfort…

Who’s in my playground? (Year 4-9, 1 hour)

Have you ever wondered who lives in your playground? Sarah introduces students to a splattering of the usual suspects. Then, in teams, they build a quadrat (a grid which scientists use to count flora and fauna). With their quadrat in hand, they utilise scientific observation skills to investigate. The workshop ends with a comparison of their findings. 

Narratives or Information. Which one wins? (Year 4-7, 1-2 hours)

Aligning directly with the Year 6 curriculum, this workshop uses Wildlife Wong and the Sun Bear to explore the differences between nonfiction and fiction; narratives and informational text. Students learn the importance of research, planning and editing, and explore literary techniques. They even get to help Sarah research her next book! 

Parliament of animals (Year 6-9, half day)

This half-day exploration of civics and stewardship is suitable for one class or a group of student leaders. Hypothetical developers propose a bridge across the river in a rainforest village. The mayor (Sarah) calls a town meeting and invites human and non-human residents.

Through five ‘acts’, students are allocated a character, research their character’s needs, and explore their character through drama workshops. They then present their perspective at the town gathering before voting for or against the bridge takes place. The day ends with a discussion of civics, through both an Australian and global lens.

Writing the environment (Year 7- 12, 1 hour)

Science needs communicators! In this hands-on 1-2 hour workshop, students learn to harness their observation skills and use literary techniques to improve narrative and informational writing about the environment. With their tools sharpened, they put them to the test. This workshop can be conducted in the classroom, or in the great outdoors.

Around the bend (Year 11-Adults, 45 mins-1 hour)

The results of one exam can plague young people with selfdoubt and anxiety and the leap from school to life can be a daunting one. In this honest keynote address, Dr Sarah Pye shares the highs and lows of her adventurous life: from a ‘boat-schooled teenager’ sailing the world, to a restaurant manager in Hawaii, a boat captain in the Whitsundays and a single mum on the Sunshine Coast. Through anecdotes of life-threatening storms, momentous rejection letters and podium finishes, participants learn there is more than one path to your goals. By leaning into the challenges, Sarah has gone from a girl who didn't go to high school, to a university lecturer with seven published books to her name!

Presentations for adults:

Borneo, Bears and Books (1.5 hours)

Learn about the importance of the tropical rainforest through Dr Sarah's multimedia presentation which using the species of sun bears to delve into environmental challenges like poaching, the illegal pet trade and habitat loss. Discover how one man is making a difference against the extinction clock, and learn ways you can be part of the solution, not the problem. 

Can the pen save the World? (1.5 hours)

Take a journey through environmental books that have changed the way we see the natural world: launching ground-breaking ideas, igniting environmental movements, and shaping governance. Then work together to add to the reading list which Sarah will send you afterwards, and discover ways YOUR pen can save the world! 

The best doctorate in the world (1 hour)

In 2012, in the middle of the humid jungle of Borneo, Sarah Pye met the smallest bear species in the world, and the man dedicated to saving them. When she asked how she could help, ‘Do what you do best’ was the powerful reply. Those five words led Sarah on a new trajectory, and in this talk she takes you along for the ride. It’s a journey of leaky gum boots, remote helicopter expeditions, incense smoked Buddhist temples, heartpumping rejection letters and momentous goodbyes.

Workshops for adults:

Parliament of animals

This half-day exploration of civics and stewardship is perfect as a PD session or team-building event. Hypothetical developers propose a bridge across the river in a rainforest village. The mayor (Sarah) calls a town meeting and invites human and non-human residents. Participants are allocated a character, research their character’s needs, and explore their character through drama workshops. They then present their perspective at the town gathering before voting for or against the bridge takes place. Participants leave with an understanding of perspectives other than their own.

Writing the environment

In this hands-on workshop, participants learn to harness their observation skills and use literary techniques to improve narrative and informational writing about the environment. With their tools sharpened, they put them to the test. 

Rainforest in a jar

Did you know the oldest terrarium in the world hasn't been opened since 1972? In this hands-on workshop, Sarah explains how this is possible and why it is important, before participants make their very own mini rainforest, or terrarium, to take home. All equipment provided.

Around the bend

In this honest keynote address, Dr Sarah Pye shares the highs and lows of her adventurous life: from a ‘boat-schooled teenager’ sailing the world, to a restaurant manager in Hawaii, a boat captain in the Whitsundays and a single mum on the Sunshine Coast. Through anecdotes of life-threatening storms, momentous rejection letters and podium finishes, participants learn there is more than one path to your goals. By leaning into the challenges, Sarah has gone from a girl who didn't go to high school, to a university lecturer with seven published books to her name!

Film Screening

Beartrek documentary screening

American bear biologist and PBS presenter, Chris Morgan, from UPROAR, has given Sarah permission to screen his expansive film to increase awareness of the importance of bears around the world. One of the scientists which features in this award-winning documentary is Dr Wong, the hero of Sarah's books. Wong himself joins for a Q&A session, via Zoom, after the screening.