Home  Taster days Australia
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You won’t know until you try: taster days in Australia
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Our taster days were honoured in The Independent on Sunday’s "Best Holiday for Green-Minded Travellers" list.
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Our taster days were honoured in a book entitled "Once in a lifetime" (Einmal im Leben) by well-known German travel publisher Merian as one of "100 unforgettable travel adventures" (100 unvergessliche Reiseabenteuer). |
Taster days are just what they say they are: days that will give you a unique insight into what it’s like to be in the field with Biosphere Expeditions assisting scientists with wildlife research and conservation. They are set amongst the beautiful scenery of Australia’s urban wild places such as National and State Parks, where you will be part of a small team, alongside a nature guide and your expedition leader. You will discover expedition and wildlife research and conservation skills such as working with a map, GPS and compass, collecting important animal data, reading animal tracks and signs, using telemetry equipment and wildlife camera traps. You will also learn about the National or State Park you are in, its fauna and flora, history and the conservation work going on inside.
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PRICE = Taster day contribution
AU$95 per person.
We will credit AU$75 back to you if you subsequently join one of our expeditions or projects.
Dates & times
Melbourne: 24 October 2010
Sydney: 31 October 2010
Taster days are always on a Sunday from 09.00 to 17.00.
Status
Green: Taster days of status green have spaces available.
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Weather expected during taster day
What can we say – Australian  . Come prepared for sunshine.
Team size
Up to 15 team members + 1 nature guide + 1 expedition leader.
Skills & prerequisites required
None. You don't need to be a scientist or have any special qualifications - everyone can take part and there are no age limits whatsoever.
Can laypeople really be of help to serious research & conservation projects?
Fitness level required
None. If you are healthy and enjoy the outdoors, you’ll be fine.
Will it be for me or am I too old/young/unfit?
Meeting point
Always an easy to find urban location right next to or in a National or State Park.
What about carbon neutrality?
Who makes my travel arrangements?
Miscellaneous
The taster day does not include catering, so please make sure you bring your own drinks and a lunch pack. Those who would like to can also join staff at a nearby pub or restaurant after the end of the taster day.
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Each taster day follows the same basic plan of creating a mini expedition. Just like on expedition there is a meeting point that you have to get to under your own steam (and where you will meet at 09.00 on Sunday morning) to start your taster day. And just like on expedition we’ll start with introductions, a short safety talk and a brief overview of what’s to come.
The rough plan for the day is as follows
08.30
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Expedition leader at the meeting point
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08.45
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Participants at the meeting point
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09.00
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Start of the taster day (please be punctual!)
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| 09.00-09.30 |
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Overview, introduction of participants and staff
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| 09.30-12.30 |
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Safety talk, Introduction to research techniques and equipment such as GPS, compass, map, hand-held radios, camera traps, radio telemetry equipment, data sheets and data collection techniques, recognising animal tracks and signs, etc. Trying out the equipment.
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| 12.30-13.00 |
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Lunch (bring your own lunch pack), pack up equipment, introduction to National or State Park
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| 13.00-16.00 |
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Field walk or boat/canoe expedition, where possible telemetry work |
| 16.00-17.00 |
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Expeditions presentation, questions, farewells
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Afterwards
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Those who would like to can join staff at a nearby pub or restaurant
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Once in the field with your expedition leader and a nature guide, you will practice the skills learned in the morning. You’ll be locating radio telemetry transmitters, setting up camera traps, doing a bit of navigating and learning how to recognise animal signs & tracks and record them just like a conservation scientist or a team member on expedition would.
Your expedition leader will be your link to our expeditions, so if you find a fox track, for example, your expedition leader may use this as an opportunity to talk to you about wolf tracks on expedition and how to record and measure them. Your nature guide will create local relevancy and tell you about the local flora & fauna, the National or State Park and its conservation work, history and other interesting historical and social facts.
By the end of the day you should know a lot more about the local fauna & flora and have a good idea what it’s like to be on expedition with Biosphere Expeditions.
Melbourne
2010: 24 October. Meet at 08.45 at the South rotunda in Yarra Bend Park, Fairfield (Melway 2D). You can either park directly on Yarra Bend Road (see below) or at Studley Park Boathouse and walk across Kanes Bridge (a footbridge).
This taster day includes a combination of field walks and kayaking around Yarra Bend Park.
Sydney
2010: 31 October. Meet at 08.45 at Q Station car park, 1 North Head Scenic Drive, Manly 2095.
This taster day includes a combination of field walks and kayaking around the Middle Harbour, Grotto Point and Sydney Harbour National Park areas.
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Google map of all Biosphere Expeditions study sites, expedition bases, assembly points, office locations, etc.
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The taster day briefing contains detailed information on all our taster days. Briefings are provided as pdf documents and you must provide a name, country of residence and valid e-mail address to be able to download one.
You can access briefings via the Download Centre.
Go on, you know you want to
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