Volunteering- The Friends of the Flinders Ranges National Park

Do you have a love and respect for the part our National Parks play in protecting wildlife, ecosystems, natural beauty and in giving people an opportunity to immerse themselves in some of nature's most significant places?  Do you think you'd like working as part of a team actively doing your bit to keep these magnificent areas safe for future generations?  Do you like getting away, into the 'Great Outdoors'?

Then why not join a Friends of Parks group?  There are many such groups, all over South Australia... and beyond! 

The Friends of the Flinders Ranges National Park (FRNP) is a great example of people doing just that.  

The FRNP is a large area in Northern South Australia, consisting of spectacular mountain scenery, diverse wildlife and flora, as well as significant geological, historical and indigenous components.  It is also a popular tourist destination. 

As only a small number of Rangers are employed in this vast Park, the Friends play a vital role in all kinds of aspects of Park maintenance and protection.  

Some of the kinds of projects the Friends undertake are:

• Weed removal
• Seed collection
• Revegetation
• Herbarium collection
• Maintenance of the Old Wilpena Station garden
• Ruin stabilisation and restoration
• Park database information collection
• Park photography

The Friends have also undertaken various training to make their work in the Park safer and more effective.

Friends members run the school holiday Seasonal Events program in the Park, including putting on their own activities such as the extremely popular 'Discover the Wonders of the Night Sky' telescope evenings. 

It's not all work though... 
although work in such a marvelous area, in agreeable company, is usually a most enjoyable way to spend a few days anyway!

However, the Friends also have more relaxed social events such as barbecues and tours of areas of the Park with Rangers and Friends members or guest guides with specialist knowledge.

Most of the active members are from Adelaide, and travel up to whatever working bees they can manage to attend.  In 2015 working bees are planned to be mostly 2 months apart and will run for approximately a week's duration.  However, people who wish to attend are welcome to come along for a shorter time, if they can't make the full period. 

Accommodation is provided free of charge in the well appointed Oraparinna Shearers' Quarters.  Membership of this Friends group is $20 a year per family and includes a monthly newsletter.
For more information and a joining form please visit the Friends website.