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.
The following subjects are available to your school, or call us and we can devise a strategy to best suit your needs.
Introduction
• General tour and overview of the park
• Explanation of the role of rangers in park management
Botany and Biology A
• Plants and their role in the environment
• Different plant types
• Air, sun, soil and water
Botany and Biology B
• Human uses of plants
• Plant functions and reproduction
• Pests and diseases
• Weed identification, infestation and eradication
• Flower types and seed dispersal
Geology A
• Geological history
• Rock types and characteristics
Geology B
• Economic & Environmental geology
• History of soil types and their effect on ecology within the park
Rivers and Catchments
• River types and characteristics
• Catchment processes, erosion and deposition
• The role of stormwater
Weather and Climate
• Understanding weather, clouds and conditions
• Climatic regions and weather
• Effect of seasons on ecology at Darebin Parklands
Cycles and Energy Flows
• Water and life
• Life cycles of plants and animals
• Food chains and food webs
Senses
• Human senses and how they help us understand the environment
• Human senses versus animal senses
Pollution Watch
• Human effects on aquatic environments
• Different types of pollution
Heritage and History
• The changing land usage of Darebin Parklands (mining, farming, tip.)
Aquatic Studies and Ponding
• Study of wetland plants or animals
• Aquatic ecosystems
Natural Habitats
• Natural habitats and animal communities within Darebin Parklands
Human Habitats
• A study of human alterations to habitats within Darebin Parklands
Tip Site Study
• Waste management- landfill sites
• Leachate treatment processes
Environmental Games
• Games and activities with prescribed themes, & orienteering/bushwalking/ outdoor education etc.
Tree Planting
• Theories behind planting
• Putting theory into practice
Community Responsibilities
• Protecting our parks and the environment
Waterwatch
• Water quality monitoring & testing
• Invertebrate identification
