We would like to invite your school to participate in environmental education at Darebin Parklands.

The aim of our environmental education program is to foster practical skills and knowledge whilst achieving the required outcomes stated within the curriculum. Excursions to the park can range from 1 hour to a full day and our services are free . We provide the activities. You simply need to provide us with groups of eager students.

The fully qualified rangers at Darebin Parklands have over twenty years experience and provide quality education programs for schools, community groups and individuals.

As a recognised leader in education programs in Melbourne, Darebin Parklands offers a truly unique, easily accessible and cost free alternative for environmental education.

Darebin Parklands comprises an area of approximately 40 hectares of urban bushland straddling the Darebin Creek. The park is located 8 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, between the suburbs of Ivanhoe and Alphington. The park is highly accessible being both on a bus route and adjacent to the Hurstbridge railway line.

We hope that you can be part of the action here at Darebin Parklands.

We also offer free environental education incursions and excursions to schools.

Education

Waterwatch and DCMC offer free environmental education incursions and excursions to your school. All activities are stimulating, interactive and fun. We also offer activities on other topics such as: Food Webs, Habitat Surveys, Nature Art, and Native Plants.

Call us to arrange a visit to your school or an excursion to your local waterway .

What is that Waterbug? (Prep – 10)

Students discover Waterbugs (macroinvertebrates) living in their local stream. Identification of waterbugs can indicate the health of the stream. Features a range of age-appropriate resources. A very popular activity!

Water Testing (3 – 11)

Students become real-life water scientists and test water from their local stream. They test the water for a number of factors such as salinity, clarity, acidity and the presence of chemical pollutants. Good for a range of ages.

Catchment Story (Prep – 7)

Students dress up and pretend to be people living along the Darebin Creek. The characters add different pollutants to “The Darebin Creek” and we discover that if a lot of people add a little bit of pollution , we get a n unhealthy creek. A popular and memorable activity for primary classes.

Fascinating Frogs (Prep – 7)

Students learn about the lives and calls of frogs living in their local creeks and wetlands. We then play a game called “Frog Bingo” where students try to match up frog calls to their pictures.

In 2009 over forty schools took part in our free education program. This is what they said:

"We learnt lots about the environment but in a fun kind of way"
- Student, Apollo Parkways Primary School.

"The team work was fun and actually experimenting with the water and equipment was interesting"
- Student, Reservoir District Secondary College.

"The children really did get a lot out of the day and were talking about their experiences in the classroom"
- Teacher, Bundoora Primary School.

Call Peter Grenfell on 0423957129 or email pgrenfell@dcmc.org.au .