Bush Rangers WA is a youth-based conservation and community development program. It supports young Western Australians to take an active role in the conservation of the natural environment and better understand the mechanisms for its management.

It offers young people opportunities to undertake personal development training while developing their conservation skills and knowledge through involvement in practical nature conservation projects. Projects undertaken can be school-based, within the local community, while others take them to some amazing locations and landscapes across the state!

Bush Ranger units are supported by Cadets WA, through Department of Communities and are located throughout Western Australia in a range of educational settings including metropolitan, regional and remote schools, Education Support Units and Indigenous Community Schools across the Independent, Catholic and State education sectors.

Bush Rangers WA encourages young people to take action for positive change for the environment!

About the program

Bush Rangers WA is a voluntary nature conservation program for secondary school students aged between 12-17 years of age. It is part of the broader Cadets WA program coordinated and financially supported by the Department of Communities with statewide coordination provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) through the Bush Rangers WA State Office and regional coordinators.

Bush Ranger units meet regularly at school, usually for a minimum of two hours a week and get involved in a range of practical activities and training opportunities to develop self confidence; teamwork and leadership skills; problem solving and critical thinking skills as well as demonstrating commitment to community service through involvement in nature conservation and other environmental projects.

Some of the conservation projects undertaken include harvesting termites for the Numbats at Perth Zoo, working with Landcare groups in salinity action, planting wildlife corridors for the Carnaby's Cockatoo, working alongside Parks and Wildlife staff at the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, completing control burns at Dwellingup and working to restore bushland on internationally recognized Ramsar wetlands.

Bush Rangers WA is an endorsed program of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (formerly the Curriculum Council). Completion of Levels 1, 2 and 3 by Bush Ranger cadets in Years 10, 11 or 12, counts towards the meeting of requirements for the WA Certificate of Education (WACE).

For Teachers

The Bush Rangers WA program could not operate without the commitment, support and passion of teachers, parents and other community members who volunteer their time to coordinate activities for Bush Rangers.

The program is part of the broader Cadets WA program coordinated and financially supported by the Department of Communities. To familiarise you with what’s required go to Setting up a Cadet Unit and read How to Set Up a Cadet Unit.

If it looks like this is the program for your school, then contact the Department of Communities on 1800 176888 and ask to speak with the Cadets WA Program Coordinator. Alternatively, get in touch via email through cadetswa@communities.wa.gov.au.

*Please note that a Bush Rangers WA unit cannot be established without the approval and sign off from the Department of Communities. There is currently a wait list for new units, however you can register your interest to be considered for a place if one becomes available. Contact the Cadets WA Program Coordinator via email at cadetswa@communities.wa.gov.au.

Once accepted into the program, a range of resource materials and other support will be available to you from the State Bush Rangers WA Office located within the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

What’s involved?

The program requires Bush Rangers to undertake a number of training modules, the details of which are outlined in a set of comprehensive training manuals made available to all Bush Ranger units. Topics covered include:

• Bush Rangers' qualities
• practical nature conservation projects
• working safely in natural environments
• drill
• the meaning of conservation
• environmental management
• parks, reserves and landscape management
• winning back wildlife
• bushcraft and survival
• first aid
• interpretation of the natural environment
• leadership in nature conservation

Other resources made available to units includes:

• logbooks for documenting student achievement
• a range of Reward/camp activities for Bush Rangers to get involved in and
• professional learning opportunities for unit leaders and instructors.

There are three levels of training within the program each of which increases in complexity as Bush Ranger cadets advance in rank from level 1 to level 3.

• Level 1: Ranger Recruit and Ranger
• Level 2: First Class Ranger and Senior Ranger
• Level 3: Ranger Section leader, Deputy Ranger Leader and Unit Ranger leader.

Bush Rangers are required to wear a uniform.

Bush Rangers WA is an endorsed program of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (formerly the Curriculum Council). Completion of Levels 1, 2 and 3 by Bush Ranger cadets in Years 10, 11 and 12 counts towards meeting requirements of the WA Certificate of Education (WACE).

To meet the WACE completion requirement, students must complete at least 20 units. At least 10 units must be from courses accredited by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority, while up to 10 unit equivalents can be from endorsed programs.

Videos from Parks and Wildlife

There are several videos that Parks and Wildlife produced that are now available online:

• Deadly Protectors: https://drive.google.com/open?id=14sdH3o4H3z5OPTq8jRBwldMU40N7b4TO
• Fire Mosaic: https://drive.google.com/open?id=115WcHjs0yVv1Z1Xcc40O_M7CV6ekVprA
• The Day the Flames Came: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1dkwAz8M-FAgkKvtz_HTSRPenrEASr27m

For Students

If you are passionate about the natural environment and want to know more out about nature conservation and its management, then becoming a Bush Ranger is for you!

As a Bush Ranger you will learn new skills, go on camps and get involved in conservation projects within the natural environment. You will also get to practice bush survival techniques, find out more about the role of the Department of Parks and Wildlife, and assist with scientific research projects.

That's just a start!

As a Bush Ranger you will take part in a range of training modules covering:

• Bush Rangers' qualities
• practical nature conservation projects
• working safely in natural environments
• drill
• the meaning of conservation
• environmental management
• parks, reserves and landscape management
• winning back wildlife
• bushcraft and survival
• first aid
• interpretation of the natural environment
• leadership in nature conservation.

As a Bush Ranger you will be required to wear a uniform which will be provided for you. Bush Rangers WA is an endorsed program of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (formerly the Curriculum Council). Completion of Levels 1, 2 and 3 by Bush Ranger cadets in Years 10, 11 and 12 counts towards meeting requirements of the WA Certificate of Education (WACE).

Sounds like the program for you? Want to join? First, you will need to do a bit of research.

Find out whether your school already has an established Bush Ranger unit. If so, speak to the Unit Leader, usually a teacher at the school, to find out when they meet and how you can join.

If neither of these options work for you then why not talk to some people at your school about setting up a Bush Ranger unit? You will need the support of the Principal, a teacher prepared to become a unit leader and some other keen and interested young people.

For Community

Bush Ranger units are particularly keen to get involved in activities and events within their local community.

If your group or organisation has an environmental project that might be suitable for Bush Rangers to learn new skills while ‘giving a helping hand’ then please get in touch by contacting the Bush Rangers Program Coordinator at bushrangers@dbca.wa.gov.au to discuss your idea. They will be able to assess whether the project is suitable and help you to make contact with relevant Bush Ranger units.

Suitable activities include but are not limited to:

• Cleaning up a stretch of beach or river foreshore
• Helping to construct and/or maintain a walk trail in a regional or national park
• Taking part in environmental surveys
• Undertaking habitat restoration and repair in a local wetland or bushland area
• Taking part in monitoring and evaluation work
• Getting involved in community events with an environmental focus.
• Planting and weeding natural areas

Some of the conservation projects previously undertaken include harvesting termites for the Numbats at Perth Zoo, working with Landcare groups in salinity action, planting wildlife corridors for the endangered Carnaby's Cockatoo, working alongside Parks and Wildlife staff at the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, completing control burns at Dwellingup and working to restore bushland on internationally recognized Ramsar wetlands.

Projects such as these provide opportunities for Bush Rangers to develop personal skills as well as those relating to teamwork and leadership. Alongside these are the health and well being benefits of working outdoors immersed in nature.

Assisting Bush Ranger Units as a volunteer

The Bush Rangers WA program could not operate without the commitment, support and passion of teachers, parents and other community members who volunteer their time to coordinate activities for Bush Rangers. Unit leaders have many skills, however, they are often looking for people with expertise in a range of areas to complement and add to these skills.

If you have some spare time and are interested in getting involved in the Bush Rangers program as a volunteer then you can get started by looking at the Location of Bush Ranger Units map (link) to find the closest unit to you. Contact the school directly for more information about what’s required in terms of time and some basic documentation you will need to provide.

The Bush Ranger Units in WA map will help you get in touch with school groups actively participating in our program.

Schools and approved organisations that would like to host a cadet unit must complete and submit an expression of interest with Department of Communities, New Cadet Unit Expression of Interest. For enquiries about this application please call the Department on 1800 176888 or email cadetswa@communities.wa.gov.au. Want your group to appear on the map? email bushrangers@dbca.wa.gov.au.

Teacher resources are password protected.
Activities for the Kimberley Manuals are available on request.
Please contact bushrangers@dbca.wa.gov.au for details.

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