Practical Conservation Through Outdoor Education
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Wollangarra's programs give young people a unique opportunity to experience what Wollangarra and the surrounding mountains have to offer. Scroll down to find about the programs that we have scheduled in for the year. If you're keen to participate in one of our programs (or know someone who is) you can follow the links below to check available bookings.
If you're keen to volunteer and help out on one of these programs (either on a hike or helping out back at the Wollangarra homestead/flat) please get in touch to register your interest. We love our volunteers and Wollangarra relies on amazing volunteers to keep things ticking so we'd love to hear from you. Please note that we often have limited capacity for volunteer roles so please register your interest early.
About the Programs
Stage 1 - Meeting the Mountains
Wollangarra’s renowned introductory program, Meeting the Mountains, offers young people from 14 –17 years the chance to discover the joy of hiking in our beautiful mountains. Young people journey in small, well organised and fully supervised hiking groups.
With these expeditions Wollangarra hopes to encourage an awareness of our environment. Meeting the Mountains is a five-day course with two nights on hike, and two nights on the farm to experience the pioneer lifestyle of the Wollangarra homestead. Young people hike in small groups of 10-12.
The hike is designed to be an enjoyable experience for the young people, as we are looking to establish a positive connection between them and the mountains. The hikers return on Thursday evening to a hot shower and a lamb roast dinner waiting for them. After dinner we sit around the open fire and swap our stories from the week.
Stage 2 - Helping the Mountains
Stage 2 is a unique opportunity for young people who enjoyed their Wollangarra Stage I to come back, get their hands dirty, visit more amazing mountains, and meet lots of other like-minded individuals.
The program is slightly different to that of a Stage 1. Stage 2’s may camp together in one big group (maximum of 24 young people with four or five staff) or in two smaller groups (12 young people with 2 staff). This is a great opportunity to really get to know the other people on the program.
When Stage Twos go hiking their main purpose is to work on a conservation project in our local area. This means we often carry tools and any thing else we might need with us. In the past, Stage II’s have worked on building and maintaining hiking tracks, rebuilding sections of old high country huts, or revegetation in important conservation areas. This is all done with the assistance of Wollangarra staff members and sometimes professionals in the field (like Parks Victoria Rangers, stone masons or local walking club members). We also make sure that we have a rest day going for a wander up a river bed or up a mountain nearby.
Stage 3 - Adopting the Mountains
The Stage 3 program is open to anyone who wants to be involved in helping and hiking in Victoria’s mountains. There are no prerequisites. Everyone is welcome to join one of our trips to enjoy and give back to the high country, learn new skills, get out in the outdoors, fundraise and meet like minded people.
Stage 3 has its own committee that meets several times a year to set goals, plan and debrief events, trips and projects. Generally Stage 3 members are made up of young people who have done a number of stage 2 programs and have a good understanding of Wollangarra operations. Please get in touch with if you're interested in joining the Stage 3 Programs. You can also find out about upcoming Stage 3 programs at the Stage 3 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/23335421036/about/
Alpine Walk
The Alpine Walk is an 11 day, 150km trek through Victoria’s most rugged and remote wilderness alternating yearly from Mittagundi to Wollangarra or from Wollangarra to Mittagundi. Five young people are chose to represent each organisation based on their involvement and contribution to the organisation throughout the previous year.
The months leading up to the walk are focused on independent fundraising from each walker, with an aim to raise as much as possible for their organisation. By raising money for the Alpine Walk, each of the young people participating have the opportunity to help Mittagundi and Wollangarra do what they do best – take young people into the mountains and give them potentially life changing experiences. Primarily it is used to sponsor young people, although it could be used for building projects, buying new equipment – all sorts of things.
The walk finishes with a big celebratory dinner at the organisation chosen as the final destination!
Become a part of the vibrant community of Wollangarra, show your dedication to the organisation and its ethos and you could be chosen to participate in this extraordinary journey!