The Environmental Detectives school education program endeavours to connect students to a sense of wonder and care for the natural environment as well as giving them an insight into the extraordinary complexity and integrity of the natural world and the role it plays in our well-being.

Scroll down this page for information on: 
  • Program History
  • Program Purpose
  • Current activity range
  • Current activity rates

Program History

​Environmental Detectives was initiated in 2010 by the Bass Coast Landcare Network to formalise our education program with local schools. The network now interacts with 18 schools within Bass Coast and over 30 schools in the Latrobe Valley, as well as adventure camps and secondary and tertiary student groups from Melbourne and other places. ​

​With funding from sponsor GDF Suez Australian Energy/ENGIE from 2014-2017, the program expanded into the Latrobe Valley. The funding allowed us to expand and refine our activity range, develop a comprehensive Instructional video and teacher information sheets with curriculum links for our activities. 
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In comparison to an average of 15 activities held per year for Bass Coast Schools in 2010, the program now hosts over 150 activities per year across Bass Coast and the Latrobe Valley areas.

program purpose and activity range

The Environmental Detectives program provides expert facilitation of field activities linked to  Australian and Victorian Curriculum requirements. The program endeavours to connect students to a sense of wonder and care for the natural world through participation in a choice of 10 fun activities designed to offer positive nature experiences in local environments. 

​Activities explore life on land and in fresh water as an exploration in its own right, but also investigate the effects of human activities and the role of ecological health in agricultural production and water quality. Activities in development include a range of creative arts/media activities that also include a component of scientific learning.

​Each activity is delivered according to the level or grade of students with most activities running for 1-1.5 hours duration. We can spend a few hours or combine activities to spend a whole day with your school.
We can work with you to tailor activities to suit your needs or units of study, or you can choose from the  current activity range below.

current activity range 

WHAT'S IN THE WATER?
  • Aquatic Macro-Invertebrates 
 Students discover water bugs and why they are important. (Similar to the Waterwatch system.)

  • Testing Physical And Chemical Features
Students test water from a local dam or waterway with scientific instruments then discover the health of the water    
based on their results.

  • Frogs
​ Students discover a range of local frogs, their life cycles, calls and favorite habitats.
WHAT'S IN THE AIR?
  • Bird Watching And Nest Making
          Students learn about birds and have fun building nests themselves.
WHAT'S ON THE LAND?
  • Bug Bits
Students search for, collect and learn about the many features of the bugs of their school yard and the roles they play in their environment. 

  • Little Big things
An extension of the ‘Bug Bits’ activity, Students learn about and collect bugs from the garden, magnify them and have fun painting their image. This activity generally takes 2-3 hours. 

  • Soils Ain’t Soils
Students learn about the structure of soil by getting their hands dirty doing simple soil tests then discuss the importance of soil to our landscape health and food production. Add on activities can include construction of funnel traps to see which creatures might live in the soil samples. 

  • Exploration Trail Nature Walks
Looking at everything from geography, environmental and science subjects to the history of European settlement and all that came before.  

  • Seed Collection And Propagation
Students learn general techniques and special secrets of seed collecting, germinating and growing indigenous plants. A field trip to a local reserve or foreshore to collect seed can be run as a stand-alone activity or combined with sessions on propagation. Propagation activities can be run at defined intervals in a mini nursery set up so students can participate in raising the seedlings. 

  • Tree Planting
Students participate in planting trees at local properties to help restore communities of plants that existed before land was cleared for farming and settlement. Students can watch plants grow and develop over the years, knowing that they helped create our future landscapes.

  • A Coastal and Bush Pantry
Students discover a range of plants and animals that helped to sustain countless generations of people in Australia and discuss various uses for fibers and materials still found in our region today.

​WHAT CAN I DO FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
We can also assist your school to:
  • Start a Bushclub
  • Create a School Garden
  • Create a Sensory Garden
  • Create a Bush Tucker Garden


​WHAT CAN I SHARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?
  • Citizen Science Programs
Helping schools contribute records of plants and animals to various citizen science programs, apps and websites. 

Current activity rates

  • Environmental Detectives staff are working on finding funding from numerous sources to offer this program to schools at little to no cost. Currently this program is unfunded and operating on a cost recovery model. Please contact us to find out if there are any subsidised spots available in your area for your school. 

  • Rates for Bass Coast Schools: Environmental Detectives activities are $6 per student per 1.5hr activity in bass Coast. Based on an average of 25 students, each activity would be $150 plus any bus costs for excursions to be paid for by the school at local bus company rates. ​*Note minimum: $120 for each activity. 
  • For a short time only - Phillip Island and San Remo Schools subsidised rate: The Phillip Island Landcare group  have generously donated funds to reduce the rate of $6 per student as listed above down to $2 per student per activity. This subsidy is offered at a first in best dressed basis, be quick to book your place! *Note minimum: $40 for each activity. 
  • Latrobe Valley and South Gippsland: Environmental Detectives activities are costed per activity, including travel surcharge for our Bass Coast based staff:
- 1 x 1.5hr activity with a maximum of 30 students $250
- 2 x 1.5hr activities with a maximum of 30 students in each activity on the same day for $350 ($175each)
plus any bus costs for excursions to be paid for by the school at local bus company rates. 

​If you would like to do more activities in one day we would be happy to work out a reduced rate for you. 
We provide all equipment needed for activities and organise permissions to access all excursion sites. 

    Environmental Detectives Activity Booking form