Minimal Impact
Parks Victoria encourages minimal impact behaviours to protect and conserve the parks and to keep you safe.
Respect the land
- Encourage students to respect the park and other visitors by 'treading lightly and quietly'.
- Ensure that your visit is a special one - people are more likely to nurture something they cherish.
Wildlife feeding issues
- Prevent problems with wildlife by not feeding the animals and taking all rubbish out of the park when you leave.
- The healthiest food for wild animals occurs in nature. Do not feed or encourage animals to take any human food.
- Feeding wildlife:
- is bad for their health,
- causes unnatural and menacing behaviours,
- causes an imbalance in natural populations,
- can spread disease.
Rubbish
- Take along a rubbish bag when going on any walks and always dispose of it properly.
- In some parks rubbish bins are not provided. Please take your rubbish home.
- Leave the park in better condition than you found it and reward students who take their rubbish home or dispose of it thoughtfully.
- Recycle your rubbish using the appropriate bins if provided.
Stay on track
- For the safety of you and your students keep to the existing walking tracks. Many search and rescues are the result of people walking off the tracks.
- By staying on track you reduce the risk of harming native flora and fauna or causing erosion and degradation of natural areas.
Come Prepared
- Ensure your students are prepared and dressed for any kind of weather; including drink bottle, sunscreen, suitable clothing, hat and appropriate footwear - no open shoes in any park location.
- On wet days, encourage students not to wear cotton clothing as it cools the body very quickly and can lead to hypothermia.
- Purchase some extra waterproof jackets from recycle shops for students who forget to bring one.
Wet weather
In the event of inclement or wet weather please contact the Education Officer/Ranger as soon as possible on the day, alternate under-cover programs may be run with small groups. Visits can be rescheduled without additional costs if vacancies exist.
Emergencies
Parks Victoria's Education Officers and Education Rangers are first aid qualified and carry a communication device. Teachers and supervisors are encouraged to carry first aid kits, mobile phones and a list of their school's phone numbers at all times.
Fire
- Programs may be modified or cancelled at late notice on days of total fire ban.
- During fire season, Parks Victoria staff may be called out to fire at late notice and a session may need to be rescheduled.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel your booking, please notify Education Officer/Ranger at least seven days prior to set date.
Notify the park
If you are carrying out an independent excursion within the Park you must notify the park staff of the date of your visit and the location you plan to visit. Call 13 1963 to be connected to any park.
