Nearer to Nature Schools
Nearer to Nature Schools offers a variety of activities, including curriculum-linked school incursions, excursions and professional development.
The Nearer to Nature Schools program offers:
- excursions or camp activities based at a variety of locations across Perth, Dwellingup, and the South West
- incursions at your school - Perth metro and the South West
Outcomes of the program support the department’s objective to ensure that the nature of Western Australia is protected and conserved, for its intrinsic values and to enrich people’s lives.
Our excursions and incursions cover a range of curriculum-linked topics including:
- fire
- Aboriginal culture
- forest/bush
- water
- wildlife
- conservation
Primary school programs
South West
Incursions/excursions
or book via Nearer to Nature South West email: swecoed@dbca.wa.gov.au
Secondary school programs
Canning River
Incursions/excursions/professional development
South West
Incursions/excursions
or book via Nearer to Nature South West email: swecoed@dbca.wa.gov.au
Excursions at Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk
To book Nearer to Nature Tree Top Walk email: ttw@dbca.wa.gov.au
Essential information for teachers
Nearer to Nature provides information assisting teachers to develop an Excursion Management Plan as required by the Department of Education's Excursion: Off School-site Activities Policy.
This section includes information for teachers planning an excursion or camp at one of our venues, including certificates of currency, risk management and bookings terms and conditions. More information, including teacher/adult to student ratios required for excursion and camp activities, is available in the Frequently asked questions section below.
Cancellations
Please confirm any cancellation in writing at least one week Before your visit, otherwise we request a cancellation fee.
DBCA reserves the right to cancel excursions at short notice in the event of adverse environmental conditions.
Certificates of currency
Parks and Wildlife Service and the City of Stirling (for Henderson Environmental Centre) is insured by RiskCover and therefore complies with all the public liability requirements of the Department of Education's Excursion Policy. You can request copies of our public liability documents when you are making a booking.
Alternatively you can download these documents below.
Confirmations
A confirmation letter will be forwarded to you on finalising your booking. We request that you reconfirm one week prior to your excursion.
Costs
Costs vary according to excursion and venue, see the relevant brochure above for the costs of your chosen program. All prices include 10% GST.
As all programs and activities are curriculum linked the GST component can be reclaimed.
The minimum payment is for 20 students; except for Nearer to Nature South West excursions, where there are no set minimum numbers. Your school will be invoiced after the excursion, with the final cost determined by the actual number of students attending.
Cheques are payable to: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Our ABN is: 38 052 249 024
DoE Excursion Management Plan checklist
The DoE Excursion Management Plan checklist provides information assisting teachers to develop an Excursion Management Plan as required by the Department of Education's Excursion: Off School-site Activities Policy.
Please see our program descriptions for curriculum links which describe the educational purpose of each excursion.
If you have any queries, please email n2n@dbca.wa.gov.au
The checklist can be downloaded below.
Duration
Excursions, unless otherwise indicated, run for four hours (from 10am to 2pm) including breaks for morning tea and lunch.
Emergency response plans
The Centres have an Emergency Response and Fire Evacuation Plan.
Our Nearer to Nature Officers, in collaboration with other delegated departmental staff are responsible for implementing the plan. In the event that an evacuation is required all school staff, students and assistants must take directions from our Nearer to Nature Officers. They can be recognised by their uniform.
All Nearer to Nature officers carry either a hand-held VHF radio or a mobile phone for emergency contact.
The Nearer to Nature Coordinators of the Centres have records of when and where all activities are taking place. Student and adult numbers are recorded at the Centre prior to departure for activities in the forest.
Overseas and interstate bookings
Separate charges may apply for overseas and interstate students.
Please contact us for more information.
Certificates of currency
DoE Excursion Management Plan checklist
Risk management information
Terms and conditions
Teacher resources
Primary school
Other classroom resources
Marine and coastal habitats - Threatened and protected species
Videos
Deadly Protectors
Fire Mosaic
The day the flames came
Contact details for excursion bookings
How to book
Bookings can be made in several ways.
For excursions at:
- Perth Hills Centre, Mundaring Weir
- Henderson Environmental Centre, North Beach
- John Forrest National Park
- Dwellingup Forest Heritage Centre
Contact:
Tel: +61-8-9295 2244,
Email: n2n@dbca.wa.gov.au
Office hours:
Monday-Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm
For excursions at:
- Wellington Discovery Forest, near Bunbury
- Margaret River Eco Discovery Centre
- Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park, Australind
- Ludlow Tuart Forest, near Busselton
- Dwellingup Forest Heritage Centre (Sustainable forestry only)
Contact:
Tel: +61-8-9725 4300,
Email: swecoed@dbca.wa.gov.au
Office hours:
Monday-Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm
For excursions at:
- Dryandra Woodlands Ecology Centre, Narrogin
Contact:
Tel: +61-8-9881 9200
Email: raymond.mcknight@dbca.wa.gov.a
For excursions at:
- Valley of the Giants, Walpole (Treetop Walk)
Contact:
Tel: +61-8-9840 8263
Email: ttw@dbca.wa.gov.au
Office hours:
Monday-Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm
FAQs
- Are schools required to provide an adult to student ratio for this excursion?
Yes. The minimum requirement for supervision is:
ONE teacher/adult for every SIX Pre-primary, Year 1 to Year 3 students.
ONE teacher/adult for every FIFTEEN Year 4 to Year 12 students.
- Do we need to bring morning tea, lunch, and drink?
Yes. There are no shops at the Centres.
- Do the Centres have Emergency Response Plans (ERP)? Can I have a copy of this plan?
Yes. Our ERPs include fire evacuation procedures. You can request a copy when you make a booking.
- Do you have Insurance and Liability cover?
Parks and Wildlife Service is insured by RiskCover and therefore complies with all the public liability requirements of the Department of Education's Excursion Policy.
Certificates of Currency can be found in the downloads section below.
- How much will my excursion cost?
Costs vary depending on the excursion and activity. Cost details are available under the primary and secondary programs links on this page. All costs quoted are GST inclusive.
- Is there a minimum payment for one group?
Yes. We are a not-for-profit government organisation and will require minimum payment for 20 students. No minimum numbers are applicable to SouthWest excursions.
- How do I pay for my school excursion?
You will be invoiced for the number of attending students or the minimum required for the excursion (See Q6). Teachers and accompanying adults are free of charge.
- Do Nearer to Nature Officers have Senior First Aid certificates?
Yes. Nearer to Nature Officers are trained in first aid and hold current Senior First Aid Certificates.
- Do Nearer to Nature Officers have Working With Children Checks?
Yes. All Nearer to Nature Officers have a current Working With Children Check.
- Is our bus required to stay at the Centre during the excursion?
We recommend that your bus stays at our Centres. For some excursions the bus will be required to transport students during the day. We provide details of essential times of arrival and departure in your confirmation letter.
- What communication strategies do you have?
Walkie-talkies are carried by Nearer to Nature Officers at Perth Hills Discovery Centre for all activities. Mobile telephones are carried by Nearer to Nature Officers at CREEC, Forest Discovery Centre, Wharncliffe Mill, Wellington Discovery Forest and other regional centres at all times.
- What information is required from Teachers on the excursion?
Nearer to Natures and Wildlife Service recommends that the Teacher-in-Charge has a list of participating students, contact telephone numbers. Teachers must provide Nearer to Nature Officers with any relevant student health information on arrival at the Centre.
