Karatta Environmental Education Centre
‘Today’s leaders making a difference for tomorrow’s future!’
Kangaroo Island Environmental Education Centre at Karatta is ideally placed
to undertake a range of exciting educational programmes. It allows easy
access to Flinders Chase National Park and all the attractions it offers.
It also is perfectly placed in beautiful native bushland within easy reach
of a range of streams allowing for a broad range of terrestrial and aquatics
programmes to be undertaken.
For may years Karatta has been synonymous with the brilliant Steve Van
Matre inspired programmes 'Sunship Earth' and 'Earth Keepers' but recent
initiatives now allow for a broad range of marine, aquatic and terrestrial
activities to be offered by negotiation with Kangaroo Island Community Education
– your host school.
KICE’s highly acclaimed, award winning programmes offer an opportunity
to participate in ground breaking science based programmes including catching,
tagging and releasing black bream: studying native fish including rare and
endangered species; alien species studies particularly koalas and marron;
'pest or pets' a feral cat, issues based programme; dolphin watch; frog
watch; reef watch; 'the pelican brief' and others. Alternatively, you can
develop your own programmes related to such a fascinating versatile site.
Close proximity to Hanson Bay allows access to snorkelling opportunities,
'Reef Watch', beach and intertidal zone monitoring and the like –
expanding the programme offerings into the marine environment.
Karatta provides facilities for self-catering or specialised catering services
are available for food to be brought in at reasonable cost.
Karatta also provides an ideal base to explore other programmes e.g. the
Aquaculture Skills Centre at Parndana Campus where Barramundi are farmed
and local native fish are kept or alternatively you may choose to participate
in any or all of the DEH programmes at Flinders Chase, Kelly Hill Caves,
Seal Bay or other sites.
An enormous range of exciting options is available to visitors to Karatta
-Kangaroo Island Environmental Education Centre.
All in all a fantastically versatile low cost campsite which offers a tremendous
opportunity for 'hands on', enriched learning for students.
Transport to and from Kangaroo Island
K.I. Sealink
K.I. Sealink operates between Cape Jervois and Penneshaw, and is a vehicle
and passenger ferry service.
For bookings: Ph: 131301 Fax: (08) 8202 8686
Group Bookings Ph: (08) 8202 8649 Fax: (08) 8202 8666
REX
Airline
Daily service to and from Kangaroo Island landing at Cygnet River 16km
from Kingscote.
For bookings: Ph: 131713
Vehicle Information - School Groups only
School
Bus
A school bus is available for DECS school groups and has a capacity of 48
large students or 66 small students.
The cost is $1.22 per km (plus GST) for the total mileage. This is forwarded onto the Department of Education and Children Services.
Please send a copy of the bus drivers licence and school approval to drive with the confirmation sheet. If this is not possible, please bring a clear copy with you and leave in the school bus log book. The Penneshaw Campus staff will collect it at the end of the camp.
Arriving at Penneshaw: The key for the bus and back up vehicle will be
available for collection at the Sealink Office at the Wharf. The Luggage
Van will be at the wharf on your arrival. Please have the Bus driver taken
to the Penneshaw School bus bay to collect the bus. The Karatta bus is 1199.
If the gate in the bus park is locked a key for it is on the key ring. Please
enter mileage in the Bus Log Book daily. Failure to do so may result in
incorrect mileage charges to your account.
Fuel for the school bus can be booked down at Davo's Deli in Parndana, Vivonne
Bay Store, Hog Bay Stores at Penneshaw (please use the Mobil Card here),
KI Fuel & Country Cottage in Kingscote. Please sign for all fuel taken.
Please make sure to fill the bus with diesel before returning to school
or airport.
Groups will need to bring their own bus driver who has a Notice of Approval
to Drive a School Bus from their school. Please bring a photocopy of your
licence and Notice of Approval. Please leave this in the log book to be
collected by the Penneshaw Campus staff. Log sheets must be filled in. Make
sure to add your ID number.
Backup/Luggage Vehicle (school groups only)
The use of this vehicle is included in the general cost, but fuel costs
are the responsibility of the group.Please ensure fuel tank is full before
departure. Please fill in log sheet at the beginning and then at the end
of your camp. Please pay by cash or credit card for the fuel or make prior
arrangements with the businesses if you wish to have it invoiced to your
school. A Class 'Car' drivers licence only is required.
Other Transport Options
There are many private bus companies that hire buses on Kangaroo Island.
Accommodation
KI Earth Education Centre is located at Karatta, and can accommodate up
to 50 people @ $15.00 per person per night (plus GST) with a minimum of
two nights. This fee does not include teaching resources and teacher support
time.
To Make a Booking
Please ring Parndana Campus to find out availability of the site and make
a tentative booking and then fill in the confirmation
sheet and fax to Parndana Campus.
Please link confirmation sheet with name.
Contact Details for Booking and Enquiries
KICE - Parndana Campus
C/O Post Office
Parndana SA 5220
Phone – (08) 85596068
Fax – (08) 85596005
Email – madelyn.kelly@kice.sa.edu.au
For Program Details Contact
Tamara Markopoulos
Marine and Environmental Co-ordinator & Karatta Facilitator
Email – tamara.markopoulos@kice.sa.edu.au
View Karatta Environmental Education Centre Map
Sleeping
Facilities
There are two dormitories each with 7 bunk beds. There are two separate
Leader's Rooms with one bunk bed in each. There are two enclosed porch areas
with one and two bunks respectively. Total sleeping facility is 38. For
larger groups, 12 floor mats are available that can be placed in the Utility
Room. All beds have mattresses and pillows. Please bring your own pillow
cases and sleeping bag.
Food
The Centre has a well equipped kitchen and dining area (See equipment
list for details) Meals are usually on a self catering basis. Food can
be purchased on the Island, or groups may wish to bring some, or all of
their supplies with them. It is generally more convenient to buy on the
Island. There is no delivery to the Centre. Orders need to be collected
on the way to the Centre.
Food orders should be sent AT LEAST TWO WEEKS prior to
your camp.
Kingscote
DRAKES FOODLAND Ph (08) 8553 2260
All Groceries plus fruit & Veg
Parndana
Davo's Deli Ph (08) 8559 6051
Parndana IGA Store Ph. (08) 8559 6097
5% discount on total food order
Other Catering Options–
Tucka on the Run
Contact: Rose Benney Ph. (08) 8559 3263
Access
The Centre will be locked when you arrive. Please arrange with administration,
where the keys to the centre, can be obtained from, when confirming your
booking. The keys are with the bus keys (if using DECS bus). Please ensure
ALL equipment used is returned and the centre is left in a clean and tidy
state.
Please Note: The house adjacent to the centre is a private residence.
First Aid
Please bring your own First Aid Kit plus a qualified First Aid person. The
Kangaroo Island General Hospital is located at Kingscote and is approximately
100km from Karatta. For emergency medical treatment - Ambulance: Ph. 000.
Campfires
There is a campfire area located within the complex - Please refer to information
displayed in kitchen on arrival regarding its use and fire ban restrictions.
Heating
Wood is provided for campfire area and slow combustion heaters in all dormitories.
It is suggested to bring firelighters (jiffy) for the heaters. They may
not have been replaced by the caretaker before your arrival. Please conserve,
as wood is a limited resource
Resources
A TV and DVD/VCR (Videos listed on Food Equipment List)
Projector screen - (Projector Currently Getting Installed)
Radio/Cassette/CD Player
Computer and Internet access (coming soon)
Prior arrangements need to be established to gain internet access and computer access as individual passwords need to be established as well as internet billing. If students and staff are from a DECS school, they can use their current educonnect user name.theirschooldomainname and password to get onto the internet.
Maintenance
Should any urgent maintenance problems occur during your stay contact:
Parndana Campus (school hours) Ph. 8559 6068/8559 6026 or
Roni Cohen, Support Services Officer (after hours) Ph. 8559 7262
Rubbish
Collection
Rubbish collection is on Thursday. The wheelies bins are to be put outside
the gates between the pine trees next to the fence. Please put them out
Wednesday night. If your camp is leaving before Thursday.
Also please put the bins out before you leave.
Please bring your own sport’s equipment. Volleyball court and net, basketball ring and Oval are at the Centre.
Telephone
A phone is available for local calls only. STD calls need to be reverse
charged.
Other Relevant Numbers
Karatta Environmental Education Centre (08) 8559 7203
Kingscote Hospital (08) 8553 4200
Parndana Campus (08) 8559 6068
Ambulance 000
Seal Bay (08) 8559 4207
Fire Alarm (08) 8559 6000
Kelly Hill Caves (08) 8559 7231
Kingscote Police (08) 8553 2018
Flinders Chase (08) 8559 7235 or 131444
KI Environmental Education
Centre evaluation form
Evaluation forms are located in the kitchen area at the Centre. Please take
the time to complete this form to further assist Parndana Campus in maintaining
this vital facility.
Other suggested places to visit that offer organised tours
Kelly Hill Caves
Bookings: (08) 8559 7231 Fax (08) 8559 7373
Flinders Chase
Contact Ranger in charge to notify day of arrival
Ph. (08) 8559 7235 Fax (08) 8559 4294
Seal Bay
Ph. (08) 8559 4207 Fax (08) 8559 4294
Group bookings are heavy. Please book 1-2 months in advance.
Lighthouses - Cape Borda and Cape Willoughby
Contact Ranger in charge to notify day of arrival
Cape Borda - Ph (08) 8559 3257 Fax (08) 8559 3298
Cape Willoughby - Ph (08) 8553 1191 Fax (08) 8553 1039
Other Suggestions
- Spend time in Kingscote
- Jumbuck Shearing Demonstration Ph: (08) 8553 9005
- Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery Ph: (08) 8553 8228
- Clifford's Honey Farm Ph: (08) 8553 8224
- Paul's Place Farm/Native Animal Experience Ph. (08) 8559 2232
- Sheep Milking (Island Pure Dairy) Ph. (08) 8553 9110
- Gum Creek Marron ph. (08) 8553 5255
- Parndana Wildlife Park Ph. (08) 8559 6050
- Kangaroo Island Freshwater Crayfish Ph. (08) 8559 4152
- KI Outdoor Action Ph. (08) 85594296
Please refer to ‘Secrets’ booklet on Kangaroo Island and information from KI Visitor Centres
Kangaroo Island
Community Education programs based at Karatta