Issues caused by environmental change are challenging to resolve, but they can be better understood when viewed through the lens of complex systems. Accordingly, this study presents a means of framing complex systems competencies in the school geography curriculum, aiming to foster learners’ understanding of complex environmental Issues, We develop a computer-supported curriculum, in which high school students learn the interactions, dynamics, and effects of interventions within complex systems technology under the support of computational tools and innovative pedagogies. A learning exercise on wildfire spread is designed to nurture students’ complex systems competencies and motivate them to create real-world solutions to mitigate increasing wildfire risks. The study highlights deepening student understanding of the complexity of environmental change in the Anthropocene and suggests avenues for future research in this critical area.