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Offsite Education Experiences
Healesville Sanctuary.
The Thorny Stick Insect Breeding and Monitoring Project is a unique pilot program developed by the Healesville Sanctuary Discovery and Learning and Sanctuary Keepers to involve 11 local primary and secondary schools and community members in the raising, breeding and research of the endemic Thorny Stick Insect, Ctenomorphodes briareus.
Thorny Stick Insects are an endemic species, but little scientific information has been gathered on their life history. Healesville Sanctuary Discovery and Learning maintains these animals in its classroom exhibits and has demonstrated the suitability and manageability of this species in captivity.
Schools participating in this pilot project are required to measure the growth rates of their animals over a period of time, with a range of variables and record their findings on data collection sheets provided. Eggs produced by female Thorny Stick Insects in schools may be returned to the Sanctuary breeding facility or incubated in the classroom.
An extensive support network including professional development programs, curriculum materials and husbandry advice accompanies the project. Schools are provided with all the equipment and animals for the initial trial period.
All school students.
Initial 12 month trial, to be continued in 2003.
Nil at present. The program is fully funded by the Victorian Department of Education and Training through the Science in Schools Strategy 2002.
AUD$11,000 in first year was used to purchase equipment, write and print extensive curriculum materials and a husbandry manual. In kind support from Zoos Victoria included the website development, keeper time, supply of initial animals and professional development. AUD$10,000 additional funding was granted by the Department of Education and Training for continuation of the project in 2003.
Zoos Victoria website, school mailouts, conference presentations, state and regional newspapers, TV coverage "Totally Wild" and articles in teacher association journals.
One Education Officer coordinating the project and an Administration Officer desk top publishing all materials. Keeping staff bred sufficient animals to stock the project.
Victorian Department of Education and Training; local government schools and school communities.
Many resources were required including, extensive curriculum materials, husbandry manual, enclosure, heat pad, temperature/humidity gauge, water spray bottle, water pot (to hold fresh browse), cotton wool pack, vial and four live Thorny Stick Insects. For incubation of eggs in stage two of the project, a plant propagator with thermostat controlled built in heating is required.
Thorny Stick Insect Conference (10/12/02) included an evaluation of the materials by teachers and of the whole project by both students and schools.
This is a pilot project and it is hoped that in the future the animals may be able to be supplied to a wider range of schools throughout Victoria. It is anticipated that the curriculum materials and the husbandry manual will be professionally printed in 2003 and on sale to schools.
Healesville Sanctuary Discovery and Learning Department Ph: +61 3 5957 2818.
 Online Education Experiences
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Offsite Education Experiences
ARAZPA Education Policy
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