Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 June 2015
Many teachers take students on visit to Nature Reserves or National Parks. The park management agency generally provides written information/worksheets and an accompanying ranger to provide interpretation. Rarely are these visits subjected to formal evaluation in terms of achievement of environmental education objectives related to park conservation and management values. A pilot study of a school visit of Year 9 students to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (ACT) found that most students had a good background in terms of previous exposure to National Parks and environmental media, and the excursion provided both an enjoyable and an educational experience. However, there seemed to be a need for basic conservation and management values and ideas to be continually emphasised to ensure their full appreciation and understanding by students.