Often on nature tours, there’s a lot of pointing at animals in the distance, but Miriam Bilander says that for people who are blind or vision impaired, it’s so important to experience the world through other senses.
Miriam, program coordinator from Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria, says that a pilot education program staged at Serendip Sanctuary in Lara is very tactile.
“The wonderful park rangers made sure this program – Junior Rangers – was as tactile as possible – touching lizards, learning about various Aboriginal hunting tools, and even using speakers to play birdcalls when the real ones fell silent,” she says.
Children who are blind and vision-impaired have experienced up close and personal some of the plants, animals and Aboriginal culture of Wadawurrung Country at the stunning sanctuary.
Hosted by park rangers in partnership with Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria, 10 children and their families walked through the sanctuary listening to the sounds of the environment, touching trees and plants and feeling different objects and animals – including a resident bearded dragon lizard.
During a cultural activity, materials and tools, including possum skins, boomerangs and clapping sticks, were held and felt, along with explanations of how they are used by Traditional Owners of the land, the Wadawurrung people.
The pilot ‘Junior Rangers’ program has been developed to allow children to explore nature and experience native wildlife up-close with their other senses. It aims to give them a passion for nature and confidence in the natural environment.
The program also provides valuable experience to park rangers who provide nature-based activities to children with additional needs. An evaluation of the pilot program will help in the planning and delivery of similar programs.
With its flat, wide paths, Serendip Sanctuary is an accessible park suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. The Serendip Education Team runs wildlife tours for children and adults of all abilities and has worked with groups including Amaze, NDIS, Scope, Outside the Box Education and Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria.
Vanessa Wiggenraad, education officer from Parks Victoria, says that they want to make Victoria’s parks and reserves are as accessible as possible so everyone can benefit from time in nature.
“It was wonderful to see the kids immersed in the sounds and sensations of Serendip Sanctuary, their faces lighting up at the call of the birdlife or the ‘clack’ of traditional clapping sticks,” she says.
Miriam notes that Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria is extremely grateful to Parks Victoria for its ongoing support.
Serendip Sanctuary, 100 Windermere Road, Lara. Enquiries: www.parks.vic.gov.au
