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.