Education Program

The Blackburn Lake Sanctuary Education Program is a free, volunteer based visitor service offered by Blackburn Lake Sanctuary Advisory Committee in conjunction with the "Friends of the Lake."

The program aims to develop among visitors:

understanding of, and sympathy for, the value of bushland in suburban areas, specifically Blackburn Lake Sanctuary.
concern to maintain such areas as sustainable environments.
opportunities for various age groups to experience and learn of the pleasures and challenges of a bushland area and to appreciate its importance to the community.

Philosophy
The BLS Advisory Committee believes that having a reasonably intact bushland ecosystem in a suburban area can encourage understanding and appreciation of the bush in those members of the community who choose to live in suburban Melbourne. Positive attitudes can best be developed by using local volunteers who show, by example, their love of the area.

Blackburn Lake Sanctuary provides opportunities for practical hands-on experiences of the bush by: weeding; planting; learning about indigenous plants; water sampling; observing birds, animals and insects; learning about culture of indigenous Australians. It also provides opportunity for creative expression through painting, photography, writing, story telling etc. It offers the possibility of reality teaching, learning and understanding, not virtual experiences.

Under the Education Program, visiting groups are welcomed with a verbal introduction to the Sanctuary supported by static displays and / or audio-visual presentations in the Visitor Centre. Guided walk and activity sheets can be provided, encouraging groups to WALK, LOOK and LISTEN as they make their way around the lake.

Visits take approximately 2 hours to complete as a morning or afternoon activity and may be a half-day excursion. To protect the Sanctuary's sensitive environment, we ask that group numbers should not exceed 30.

The BLS Education Committee will make every effort to meet reasonable requests for our programs, subject to the availability of our volunteer personnel. We are happy to tailor programs for particular curriculum requirements and to assist schools with resource material for assignments. Programs can be designed for primary, secondary, tertiary and adult groups.

Topics include:

Bush Tucker:
Environmental care:
Birds:

Wildflowers: .

Fungi: .

Frogs: .

Bookings

Bookings are essential and at least 3 - 4 weeks before the event. Maximum of 30 students.

For bookings or further information please contact Carolyn on 0458 968 804

or email the Education Program Officer

Would you like to beome a volunteer for the Education Program?

Volunteers regularly attend "in-service" training and new volunteers are most welcome to come along to observe, then progress gradually in learning how to use activity sheets with small group of students.

For further information contact Carolyn on 0458 968 804