Join us in East Gippsland's forests for an in depth citizen science and forest defense camp.

Learn from the dedicated and passionate ecologists and activists at GECO whose citizen science campaign is saving forests from logging.We'll be based in and around Goongerah and the iconic Kuark forest.
This camp will visit forests on the lands of the Bidewell, GunnaiKurnai and Monero people. We acknowledge their ongoing custodianship of these forests and pay respect to their elders past and present.

The camp is free of charge. But donations to cover costs are most appreciated.

You'll gain skills to put into practice and get involved in the GECO citizen science campaign.

Camping will be at the Goongerah campground, by the clear waters of the Brodrib river.

Workshops and practical sessions will focus on forest ecology, threatened species, survey techniques, remote fauna cameras, nocturnal spotlighting, Owl surveys, Frog and aquatic surveys, rainforest identification, forest carbon accounting and more.

You're welcome to join and leave the camp at any time, come for a few days or stay for a whole two weeks!

Introductory workshops and practicals will be held over the first three days. If you've never been to a camp before we recommend arriving on the first day. If you've been to a camp or two or three, you'll be able to get into more advanced activities later in the program (after the first three days).

GECO supplies all survey equipment but if you have powerful torches, binoculars, compass, GPS, cameras etc please bring them.

No experience or prior learning is required, just a sense of adventure and reasonable level of fitness. Walks in the forest are not on formed tracks and various obstacles and hazards will be encountered. Participants join walks at their own risk.

Camp facilities:

The site has a composting toilet, drinking water and a sink for washing dishes.

We will have the GECO kitchen tent set up with communal gas burners, cooking pots and pans, bowls, cups and cutlery etc. Evening meals will be provided but you need to supply your own breakfast and lunch. The kitchen will be available to use each morning for breakfast, lunch will be eaten in the bush on field trips.

Families and children are welcome.

What to bring:

- Camping gear: tent/swag and tarp, head torch, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, water bottles/containers etc

- Warm clothing and wet weather gear

- Sturdy footwear for walking in the bush

- Gaiters or tough long pants for walking

- Food for breakfast and lunch for each day

- Money to purchase a $5 vegan meal each evening (all money goes to GECO campaign). You might also like to buy some GECO merchandise like hoodies, t shirts, posters, stickers etc.

- Fuel for your cars. Fill up in Orbost if coming from the south or Bombala if coming from the north. You need enough fuel to drive from the campground each day to field trip locations and still have enough left over to get out of Goongerah. If you have a jerry can bring it along.

Goongerah is a remote environment, no shops, no phone reception, no fuel. Be prepared.

There is a public phone box located at the community hall and internet access at the our office space.

Join us over the Melbourne Cup long weekend for GECO's spring citizen science survey camp. Learn from the dedicated and passionate ecologists and activists at GECO whose citizen science campaign is saving forests from logging.

You'll gain skills to put into practice and get involved in the GECO citizen science campaign.

Camping will be at the Goongerah campground, by the clear waters of the Brodrib river.

Workshops and practical sessions will focus on forest ecology, threatened species, survey techniques, remote fauna cameras, nocturnal spotlighting, Owl surveys, Frog and aquatic surveys, rainforest identification, forest carbon accounting and more. 

GECO supplies all survey equipment but if you have powerful torches, binoculars, compass, GPS, cameras etc please bring them.

No experience or prior learning is required, just a sense of adventure and a reasonable level of fitness. Walks in the forest are often not on formed tracks and various obstacles and hazards will be encountered. Participants join walks at their own risk.

Camp facilities:

The site has a composting toilet, drinking water and a sink for washing dishes.

We will have the GECO kitchen tent set up with communal gas burners, cooking pots and pans, bowls, cups and cutlery etc. Evening meals will be provided but you need to supply your own breakfast and lunch. Kitchen will be available to use each morning for breakfast, lunch will be eaten in the bush on field trips.

What to bring:

- Camping gear: tent/swag and tarp, head torch, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, water bottles/containers etc

- Warm clothing and wet weather gear

- Sturdy footwear for walking in the bush

- Gaiters or tough long pants for walking

- Food for breakfast and lunch for each day

- Money to purchase a $5 vegan meal each evening (all money goes to GECO campaign). You might also like to bur some GECO merchandise like hoodies, t shirts, posters, stickers etc.

- Fuel for your cars. Fill up in Orbost if coming from the south or Bombala if coming from the north. You need enough fuel to drive from the campground each day to field trip locations and still have enough left over to get out of Goongerah.

Goongerah is a remote environment, no shops, no phone reception, no fuel. Be prepared.

There is a public phone box located at the community hall. 

 See here for info about our last camp in June.

Join us over the Grand Final long weekend for GECO's spring citizen science survey camp. Learn from the dedicated and passionate ecologists and activists at GECO whose citizen science campaign is saving forests from logging.

You'll gain skills to put into practice and get involved in the GECO citizen science campaign.

We've only just announced this at short notice as we have to postpone the planed Melbourne Cup Weekend Camp due to circumstances beyond our control. This camp will be small but were planning a large one in December for a week!

Camping will be at our new environment centre, known locally as "The Roadhouse". There are plenty of grassy camp sites, all accessible by two wheel drive cars. We will use the centre for workshops and presentations.

Workshops and practical sessions will focus on forest ecology, threatened species, survey techniques, remote fauna cameras, nocturnal spotlighting, Owl surveys, Frog and aquatic surveys, rainforest identification, forest carbon accounting and more.

GECO supplies all survey equipment but if you have powerful torches, binoculars, compass, GPS, cameras etc please bring them.

No experience or prior learning is required, just a sense of adventure and a reasonable level of fitness. Walks in the forest are often not on formed tracks and various obstacles and hazards will be encountered. Participants join walks at their own risk.

Camp facilities:

The site has a composting toilet, drinking water and a sink for washing dishes.

We will have the GECO kitchen tent set up with communal gas burners, cooking pots and pans, bowls, cups and cutlery etc. Evening meals will be provided but you need to supply your own breakfast and lunch. Kitchen will be available to use each morning for breakfast, lunch will be eaten in the bush on field trips.

What to bring:

- Camping gear: tent/swag and tarp, head torch, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, water bottles/containers etc

- Warm clothing and wet weather gear

- Sturdy footwear for walking in the bush

- Gaiters or tough long pants for walking

- Food for breakfast and lunch for each day

- Money to purchase a $5 vegan meal each evening (all money goes to GECO campaign). You might also like to bur some GECO merchandise like hoodies, t shirts, posters, stickers etc.

- Fuel for your cars. Fill up in Orbost if coming from the south or Bombala if coming from the north. You need enough fuel to drive from the campground each day to field trip locations and still have enough left over to get out of Goongerah.

Goongerah is a remote environment, no shops, no phone reception, no fuel. Be prepared.

There is a public phone box located at the community hall. 

Itinerary:

Thursday night: Arrive at camp

Friday - Mid morning introductory forest walks, evening introduction to spotlighting and frogging sessions

Saturday - Workshops, presentations, forest walks

Saturday night - Nocturnal Spotlighting

Sunday - Workshops and forest walks

Monday - Forest walks

Read about our previous survey camps here:

July 2016      March 2016       January 2016       December 2015

Community groups are using citizen science surveys to save important habitat for Victoria's faunal emblem the Leadbeater's Possum and Australia's largest gliding marsupial, the Greater Glider.

Volunteers have literally spent thousands of hours searching for protected species in habitat scheduled for logging and forced state owned logging agency out of some areas of legally protected habitat.

It shouldn't be up to volunteers and the community to police VicForests and make sure our precious wildlife is given the protection afforded to it under the law!

The Victorian government needs to stand up to VicForests and enforce the laws that protect these unique animals.

Join us at Treasury Gardens on National Threatened Species Day, for a creative and theatrical action calling on the state government to better protect threatened wildlife from VicForests logging operations.

We're planning to have a some fun and creatively highlight the hard work the community is putting in to save these species and the urgent need for the government to take action themselves!

Meet us in Treasury Gardens at 10am. There will be speakers, banners, costumes, creative props and a big loud message to take to government! We'll be finished by 12pm, but if your keen to stick around we'll be setting up a Threatened Species embassy in Treasury Gardens for the day to hand out information about the threats to our protected wildlife and have conversations with the public about what they can do to help.

Join us in Goongerah over the Queen's birthday weekend for the seventh GECO citizen science forest survey camp.

Learn from the dedicated and passionate ecologists and activists at GECO whose citizen science campaign is saving forests and habitat from logging.

You'll gain skills to put into practice and get involved in the GECO citizen science campaign.

This event is held on the lands of the Gunnaikurnai, Bidwell and Monaro people who never ceded sovereignty. We acknowledge their custodianship of these forests and pay respect to their elders past and present.

Workshops and practical sessions will focus on forest ecology, threatened species, survey techniques, remote fauna cameras, nocturnal spotlighting, Owl surveys, Frog surveys and rainforest identification, forest carbon accounting and more.

Data we collect on the camps is compiled into survey reports that are submitted to the Victorian government to ensure that logging operations are not in breach of the law and threatened species and rare forest types are protected.

This is family friendly event and children of all ages are more than welcome to attend.

The camp will be based opposite the Goongerah community hall,

6933 Bonang Road. Goongerah

The GECO kitchen tent will be set up with gas stoves, and basic kitchen gear for all to use each the morning.

Drinking water for filling up your own containers and toilet facilitates are available on site.

We'll use the community hall over the road to hold presentations and eat dinner.

Bring your own camping gear and food for breakfast and lunch.

We will provide vegetarian and vegan dinners on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night for $5 a plate.

Please do not bring your dog or pets.

Gear list:

- Wet Weather gear

- Warm Clothing

- Camping gear - tent/swag/tarp

- Torch (head torch)

- Gaiters

- Solid footwear for walking in the bush

- Water bottles/ container

Program:

(very flexible and likely to change)

Friday evening:

Introduction to mammal spotlighting and frogging (we expect people will arrive throughout the evening on Friday so we don't have much planned for Friday night, just these two basic introductory activities for those who have already arrived)

Directions From Melbourne:

Drive to Orbost on the Princess highway. From Orbost head north on the Bonang rd for 70kms to Goongerah.

The camp is in the paddock on the opposite side of the road from Goongerah community hall, 6933 Bonang Road, Goongerah.

The Telstra phone box at the community hall can be viewed on google maps.

Directions from Sydney:

Drive to Canberra and then get on the B23 highway to Cooma and then onto Bombala. A few kms south of Bombala turn right onto the Delegate rd. Drive through Delegate and cross the border into Victoria where the Delegate road becomes the Bonang rd. Continue south on the Bonang road to Goongerah. Look for the phone box  at the hall on your right.

There is no fuel in Goongerah. Make sure you fill up cars in Orbost if you are coming from Melbourne, or in Bombala or Delegate if coming from Sydney. You will need enough fuel to drive to survey sites (all roads are 2wd) and save enough to leave. Filling up your tank at the last available fuel on the way to Goongerah should leave with more than enough.

Goongerah is a remote environment; there are no shops here. Please come prepared with food and fuel and try to be as self sufficient as possible.

Check out what people who have attended these camps have been saying about their experience.

Tania attended the camp in January 2016 and had this to say

“Citizen science was a fabulous week. GECO are a passionate, intelligent, hardworking bunch that is doing so much incredible work to protect the stunning old growth/rainforests of East Gippsland. Anyone with a love of our forests would get down there for a workshop - you will learn a heap and meet a bunch of like minded people.”

Ziana attended in March 2016 and had this to say.

"Still totally buzzing after the incredible weekend! Was so special to be surrounded by you all amongst that breathtaking forest... Thank you so much! "

If you’re wanting to learn more about GECO’s campaign to stop illegal logging and protect East Gippsland's forests, come down and get informed about what’s happening to our forests!

We’ll be talking about current campaigns, successes and the upcoming citizen science camp on June 10th! Hope to see you all there.

Info session for anyone keen to learn about GECO’s campaign to stop illegal logging in East Gippsland. If you’re wanting to find out more about GECO and it’s citizen science camps, campaigns and successes come along!

Everyone is welcome and this session isn’t strictly for students. This is a great opportunity for people interested in coming to the next GECO forest survey camp in June, who want to learn more about the campaign before coming out.

Hear from campaigners about recent successes, future challenges and how you can help. Previous camp participants will share their experiences and short films about the campaign will be screened.

Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO) & Goongerah Landcare presents the second Goongerah Citizen Science survey camp of 2016, over the Labour Day long weekend, March 11-14, 2016

Learn about East Gippsland's wildlife and forests that are under threat from logging. Workshops and presentations on forest ecology, rainforest evolution and identification, threatened species survey techniques and forest campaign updates. No scientific knowledge/experience is required

Practical sessions will focus on remote fauna camera deployment, nocturnal wildlife spotlighting, rainforest mapping and measuring carbon stocks in areas  threatened by logging.

Data we collect on the camps is compiled into reports that are submitted to the Victorian government to ensure that logging operations are not in breach of the law and threatened species and rare forest types are protected.

To read about the success of our last camp click here.

We'll be camping at Kuark Gap, on Greens rd in the Kuark Forest. It's a really easy drive that all two wheel drives can do and takes less time than coming direct to Goongerah. The other good thing about this plan is we will be based in the the heart of the Kuark forest and forest survey opportunities are right on our doorstep. Camp is right next to spectacular old growth forest.

From Melbourne: Drive to Orbost, Continue past Orbost heading east on the Princess highway for about 15kms. Look for signs to the Citizen Science Camp just before Murrungower rd Picnic Area (currently under redevelopment, you will see lots of earthworks machinery). At Murrungower rd Picnic area you need to turn left off the Princess hwy onto Murrungower rd. Drive up Murrungower rd for about 25mins until you reach a large intersection with a giant tree in the middle of it. Look for the Citizen Science Camp signs directing you to turn onto Greens Rd. Continue on Greens rd for about 15-20mins. Go past Jack Rd on your left, stay on Greens rd. Continue for another 5 mins and you will see us camped on Greens rd at Kuark Gap. We will have the full camp set up there with a kitchen etc from Friday morning.

From Sydney:
Drive to Bombala and instead of taking to the Delegate rd that you would take to Goongerah take the Monaro Highway, cross the border and head to Cann River. At Cann River turn right onto the Princess highway. Drive for about 58 km until you reach the Murrungower Picnic area. Turn right onto Murrungower rd at the picnic area (currently under redevelopment, you will see lots of earthworks machinery). Turn right from the highway onto Murrungower rd, Drive up Murrungower rd for about 25mins until you reach a large intersection with a giant tree in the middle of it. Look for the Citizen Science Camp signs directing you to turn onto Greens Rd. Continue on Greens rd for about 15-20mins. Go past Jack Rd on your left, stay on Greens rd. Continue for another 5 mins and you will see us camped on Greens rd at Kuark Gap. We will have the full camp set up there with a kitchen etc from Friday morning.

Click here for google maps location of Murrongower Picnic area where you need to turn off the Princess Highway.

There is mobile reception in most spots up Murrungower rd and also at the camp, so if you need assistance please call us on 0414 199 645.

Look for the signs. Bring your own camping gear, tents, tarps, water containers etc. You will need solid footwear, wet weather gear, head torch, gaiters (if you want to keep the leeches away) and warm clothing. Most surveys will be conducted in remote and trackless terrain in thick bush, so a decent level of fitness and appropriate gear and clothing is required.

We will supply tasty vegetarian dinners each evening for $5 a plate, bring your own breakfast and lunch for the full four days. The GECO kitchen will beset up with cooking facilities such as gas burners, kettles, pots and pans and basic food supplies for all to use.

There are no shops here. Come prepared with plenty of food and fuel. Make sure you fill up your fuel tank at the last available fuel in Orbost if coming from Melbourne or Bombala/Delegate if you are coming from Sydney.

Victor attended in January and had this to say,

“Just got back from GECO Citizen Science Camp in far East Gippsland. I've met forest conservationists all over Australia and they're all tough as nails but this group of experts are by far the toughest and most innovative that I've ever met. Full immersion into experiencing the different types of ecosystems. The knowledge of species both flora and fauna and how important the natural environment is necessary to sustain existence combined with the fearlessness of our guides was extraordinary.”

Join us for an intensive survey based program with an aim to collect data on specific forest values such as old growth forest, arboreal mammals, Long-footed potoroo, large forest owls and rainforest. Based in Goongerah in the heart of far East Gippsland's forests. This is part two of the Summer of Citizen Science and forest defence.

This survey program officially goes for one week, however you're more than welcome to stay on and join as we we continue to conduct surveys and take action for East Gippsland's forests throughout January and February. Program details below.

For the first three days we will be based in Goongerah at the Goongerah Camp ground. Educational presentations on various elements of forest ecology and threats to high conservation value forests will take place each morning. Presentations will be followed by forest walks and introductory survey workshops.

On December 7th we will head up to the Errinundra plateau to camp for two nights at a secret mountain campsite.

Once we are up on the plateau we will conduct day time forest walks and surveys, such as forest carbon accounting, remote camera deployment and rainforest identification.

At night we will conduct spotlight surveys for nocturnal mammals and large forest owls and frogs. All survey areas will be in areas of forest scheduled for logging.

Our kitchen trailer and mess tent will be set up providing drinking water and gas burners for cooking. There will be some communal meals, but please bring food to contribute to the kitchen or cook for yourself. We always encourage people to be as self sufficient as possible. Small amounts of cash to donate are much appreciated to cover the costs of putting the camp on.

Participants need to be well prepared with warm clothing, wet weather gear, torches and camping equipment. We'll be meeting in Goongerah on the 4th of January at the Goongerah camp ground and car-pooling out to the camp location from there. If you arrive later, there will be mud maps and directions to the mountain camp available at the Goongerah camp ground. The Goongerah camp ground is on the right side of the Bonang rd, if traveling from the south, in the community of Goongerah. It is well signed and easy to find.

Far East Gippsland is a remote environment, with no phone reception and shops. The closest shops are 70kms away so make sure you are well prepared with plenty of food and fuel.

We expect a contingent of attendees will stick around and continue to help with the campaign to protect East Gippsland's forests, so while this event has an end date, we'll be continuing our efforts to protect forests well into 2016, so stick around and join us if you can.

Email geco.media@gmail.com for more information

Or call 0414 199 645 or (03) 51540109

Join us this summer in Goongerah, East Gippsland for the Summer of Citizen Science and Forest Defence! This epic two week program will consist of workshops and educational activities on all manner of forest campaign related things! After three days of learning about citizen science, direct action and the campaign to protect East Gippsland's forests, together we'll embark on a two week program of rigorous forest surveys, direct action and smashing good times in defence of East Gippy's ancient forests!

Program -

Friday December 4th - Sunday December 6th

Workshops by campaigners, legal experts and ecologists:
Mammal spotlighting
Rainforest evolution and identification
Remote fauna cameras
Owl surveys
Ecology of the long-footed Potoroo
Greater Glider decline
Forest Carbon accounting
Threatened species, logging and the law
Tree Climbing
Non-Violent Direct Action - Strategy and tactics
Your legal rights as a forest activist
History of the East Gippsland forest campaign
Suing the government...and winning!

Walks:
Rainforest walks
Old growth walks
Kuark forest walks


Monday December 7th - Friday December 18th


Practicals:
Non-Violent direct action - Stopping the chopping!
Forest surveys - fauna, flora and more!
Track building - creating a future for nature based tourism.
Forest carbon accounting - measuring carbon stocks in areas scheduled for logging.

Join us for the whole program or come for a week, a weekend or stay forever and help us protect East Gippsland's remaining ancient forests for good!


BYO:
camping gear, torches, wet weather gear, sturdy footwear etc
The GECO communal kitchen will be set up with shared cooking gear, there will be some communal meals, but please bring food to contribute to the kitchen or cook for yourself. We always encourage people to be as self sufficient as possible.
Also small amounts of cash to donate are much appreciated to cover the costs of putting the camp on!


Goongerah is a remote environment, with no phone reception and shops. The closest shops are 70kms away so make sure you are prepared with plenty of food and fuel.


Our camps this year have been hugely popular, this one will be the biggest and best yet. There'll be entry level activities and more advanced activities for people who have attended camps already. There's something for everyone!