Become a Nature Steward and learn about your local environment, meet like-minded people, and find ways to get outdoors and volunteer!
Nature Stewards is a 10-week program that will introduce you to your local and wider Victorian ecosystems and natural places, including:
- Rocks and soils
- Fungi, plants, and animals
- Climate change and seasons
- Ways to care for Country and manage private property
- Being a citizen scientist, conservation volunteer, advocate for nature, or a nature guide
- How and where you can get outdoors and volunteer in your area
This program is open to anyone over the age of 18, however preference is currently given to residents of the council areas.
***Please note: due to COVID-19, part/all of the Nature Stewards programs may have to be delivered online at short notice, using ZOOM. All participants will need access to a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet and a decent connection to access the internet.
Program places available via application for each program location.
Upcoming Summer / Autumn 2022 programs:
- City of Melbourne area
- City of Whittlesea area
- City of Knox area
- Moreland City Council area
- NW Hub – Hume, Macedon, and Melton Council areas
- Yarra Ranges Council area
Applications open December 2021
Please note, in following current Government directions, participants and staff of 2020 programs will need to be fully COVID vaccinated, to ensure COVID safe programs.
Questions about the program
Contact: naturestewards@outdoorsvictoria.org.au
PROGRAM INFO
- 10 x Weekly classes (3 hours)
- 4 x Field sessions (4 hrs)
- Certificate of completion
Expectations
- Over the age of 18
- Best suited to those with little or no formal environmental education
- Willing to try, or continue, environmental volunteering
- Able to take part in Saturday field trips (4 during program, 4 hours in length)
City of Melbourne Program
Summer program
When: February 26th – May 21st (excluding Labour Day, Easter, and ANZAC Day long weekends)
Saturdays classes: 9.30 – 12.30pm, Field sessions to follow approx. 1 – 4.30pm on the 5th and 26th March, 2nd and 30th April, 14th May
Where: Walmsley House, Royal Park, 161 Gatehouse St, Parkville *parking on Gatehouse St + Tram
Cost: $350 full fee; $90 Concession*
*Conc.: healthcare card holder, pensioner & full-time student
city of WHITTLESEA PROGRAM
Autumn Program:
When: April 30th – July 9th (excluding Queen’s Birthday long weekend)
Saturdays classes: 9.30 – 12.30pm, Field sessions to follow approx. 1 – 4.30pm on the 7th May, 4th and 25th June, and 2nd July
Where: Kirrip Community Centre, 125 De Rossi Blvd, Wollert
*Parking at end of the building, entrance at the other end of building.
Cost: Whittlesea Council resident: $250 full fee, $90 Concession*
Non-Whittlesea Council Resident: $350 full fee; $90 Concession*
*Conc.: healthcare card holder, pensioner & full-time student
Knox City Council Program
Autumn Program:
When: May 7th – July 16th (excluding Queen’s Birthday long weekend)
Saturdays classes: 9.30 – 12.30pm, Field sessions to follow approx. 1 – 4.30pm on the 14th May, 18th, 25th June, and 9th July
Where: pending
Cost: Knox Council resident environmental volunteer: $45 flat rate
Knox Council resident, non-environmental volunteer: $175 flat rate
Non-Knox Council Resident: $350 full fee; $90 Concession*
*Conc.: healthcare card holder, pensioner & full-time student
Moreland City Council Program
Autumn Program
When: March 5th – May 28th (excluding Labour Day, Easter, and ANZAC Day long weekends)
Saturdays classes: 9.30 – 12.30pm, Field sessions to follow approx. 1 – 4.30pm on the 19th and 26th March, 30th April, 7th and 14th May
Where: Fawkner Neighbourhood House, 79 Jukes Road, Fawkner *Parking on site
Cost: Moreland City Council Resident: $250 full fee; $70 Concession*
Non-Moreland City Council Resident: $350 full fee; $90 Concession*
*Conc.: healthcare card holder, pensioner & full-time student
North West Hub Program
Autumn Program:
When: March 26th – June 18th (excluding Easter, ANZAC Day, and Queen’s Birthday long weekends)
Saturdays classes: 9.30 – 12.30pm, Field sessions to follow approx. 1 – 4.30pm on the 2nd and 9th April, 14th, 21st May, and 4th June
Where: Multiple locations (approx. 3 weekly rotations) in following order:
Hume location – Hume Global Learning Centre, Sunbury, 44 Macedon St, Sunbury *Parking off Brook St
Macedon location – pending
Melton location – Melton Library and Learning Hub, 31 McKenzie St, Melton *Parking at rear off Henry St
Cost: Tri-Council Resident (Hume, Macedon Ranges, Melton Councils): $175 full fee; $45 Concession*
Non-Tri-Council Resident: $350 full fee; $90 Concession*
*Conc.: healthcare card holder, pensioner & full-time student
Yarra Ranges Council Program
.Autumn Program
When: March 19th – June 4th (excluding Easter and ANZAC Day long weekends)
Saturdays classes: 9.30 – 12.30pm, Field sessions to follow approx. 1 – 4.30pm on the 26th March, 2nd April, 7th, 14th, 28th May
Where: Multiple locations (approx. 3 weekly rotations) in following order:
The Memorial Hall, ‘The Memo’, 235 Maroondah Hwy Healesville.
Tapscott-Milbourne ‘Brickworks’, 320 Cambridge Road, Montrose
Birdsland Environment Centre, 271 Mt Morton Road, Belgrave South.
Cost: Yarra Ranges Council Resident: $175 full fee; $45 Concession*
Non-Yarra Ranges Council Resident: $350 full fee; $90 Concession*
*Conc.: healthcare card holder, pensioner & full-time student
Note: Scholarships available!
“This has been such a wonderful experience. I’ve learnt so much and feel motivated to learn more. Somehow I missed out on learning about these things in the past. Maybe because I moved schools a few times in high school. I’m such a devotee of nature and this is giving me a much deeper appreciation. The quality of the presenters has been extraordinary. I feel privileged to have met and heard their wisdom. I find myself sharing these learnings in conversation and surprising people with information about their local environment. It’s exciting.”- Leesa, Melbourne 2019
“Thank you for the awesome opportunity presented in these field sessions and for arousing my curiosity in various aspects with regard to engaging with the nature around us.” – Chrysolyte, Melbourne 2019
It’s been a wonderful experience, and I have learned so much about nature and Victoria. There’s a lot of knowledge that will stay with me for my entire life, and many areas that I will do further research into!” – Sophie, Melbourne 2019
“The program has been very informative and all of the speakers have been excellent”– Mary-Jane, Manningham 2019
“It’s been life changing”- Louise, Melton 2019
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