Family Forest Evening: Greater Glider Spotlighting

Saturday, September 16, 2023 4:15pm - 7:15pm
Location: Meet at Monda Car Park Monda Road Toolangi

Are you keen for a family forest adventure? Would you like to see a Greater Glider in the bush?

ACF Community Boroondara and Lighter Footprints with the wonderful volunteers from Kinglake Friends of the Forest offer families the opportunity to take a guided walk in the forests of Toolangi on the afternoon and evening of 16th September. Come and see the Greater Glider in its natural habitat. Wonder at the beauty of our magnificent forests and learn about why our forests are so important for all of us.

Join us at 4.15 pm for introductions and some forest games. Location: Monda Car Park, Monda Rd (access to Monda Rd is from Myers Creek Rd).

Bring your own family picnic dinner and then head into the forest at sundown.

Kinglake Friends of the Forest guides will take small groups along clearly designated pathways and you’ll spotlight the gliders with high-powered 1000 lumen spotlights. Greater gliders are curious creatures who tend to sit and watch rather than be fearful of the lights and people below.

We will be spotlighting for about 45 minutes and then we will gather for a hot drink and group photograph.

We will be ready to head home by 7.15 pm.

Our Friends of Kinglake Forest will be your field guides.

Everyone will need to dress warmly, with gloves and beanies, plus waterproof coat, pants, and sturdy shoes/boots. (Even if it’s not raining – forests are damp places).

We will postpone the event if it is raining.

If you have a head torch please bring it.

Program

4.15pm Arrive – Monda Rd Car Park

4.30-5pm Family Forest Activities

5.15pm BYO Picnic Time

6pm Allocate families into groups and prepare for forest walk

6.15pm Start group forest walk with guides

7pm Return to cars /hot drink and group photo

7.15pm HOME TIME

Join us on 16 September for a fun family outing and learn some more about our fabulous Victorian Forests. This promises to be a fun event for families with children of primary and secondary school age. Younger children are also welcome but may find walking in the forest at that time of day tiring. We trust that parents and carers will make common-sense decisions about what their children can manage.

There are no toilets at Monda Carpark so participants should use toilets before arriving if required. Public toilets are available at nearby Castella Carpark and the Recreation Reserve in Toolangi, and in Healesville. (Bush pees are another option, of course!)

Families who choose to make a day of it may find other suitable walks at this link: Toolangi State Forest walking trails