It's no secret that the amount of time the children of today are spending indoors in front of video games and computer screens is increasing.

To address this NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) launched children's program WilderQuest in April 2012 to inspire the next generation to love, appreciate and protect our natural environment. 

Fast forward nearly two years and WilderQuest has seen exceptional growth, won an array of awards and most importantly is achieving what the program set out to do – getting children outside and engaging in nature.

WilderQuest Discovery activities will be held during the upcoming Easter holidays to encourage children to learn and reconnect with nature through the exploration of a diverse range of environments and cultural heritage within NSW National Parks. The activities will also coincide with the second birthday of WilderQuest, with many exciting events planned.

Along with Discovery activities the WilderQuest pop up stand will be located at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo during the Easter school holidays, so go along and check out some of the games and experiences on offer.

Visit the WilderQuest events page to find out more about what is on in your area.

According to Ecotourism Australia, ecotourism contributes over $1 billion annually to the Australian economy, and EcoTreasures is one of the operators at the forefront of this growing market.

EcoTreasures is a 10 year Premium Eco Pass holder with NPWS, and hosts a variety of experiences including stand up paddle board and snorkelling tours, camping trips and bush walks in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and coastal walks in Sydney Harbour National Park.

The 'hands on' nature of EcoTreasures allows customers to understand why preservation of the environment is paramount, and Damien McClellan, Director of EcoTreasures said that the business aims to make a positive change through showcasing the natural environment.

"The role of eco tour operators is to raise awareness about the vital role our natural environment plays, which is a crucial step in helping conservation initiatives. Our customers seek new experiences by immersing themselves in some of nature's greatest assets and EcoTreasures is dedicated to protecting these", Mr McClellan said.

Australia is gearing up to host the prestigious International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s, World Parks Congress. Taking place this November, the event happens once every 10 years and will involve 3,000 people from 160 countries to help plan the future for some of our most valuable assets – parks. By registering to attend the Congress, you can also choose to book a field trip and explore some of the amazing parks right on our doorstep.

We’re sure many of you have visited the Blue Mountains National Park and had your picture taken in front of the Three Sisters, and been in awe of the stunning scenery. But did you know that within this World Heritage Area, innovative partnerships are aiming to develop the Mountains as a low carbon tourism destination, one that provides visitors with an enhanced experience of the region’s natural environment? It is also a place of Indigenous cultural significance and these field trips will provide a deeper understanding of the age-old cultures, and demonstrate how respectful and authentic Aboriginal tourism products are being integrated into the overall tourism experience for the region.

If you want to explore one of our parks with the experts and learn more about the area, plans for the future and importance of the past, register to attend the IUCN World Parks Congress and an associated field trip.

The hit US sitcom, Modern Family filmed recently in Australia, and NSW National Parks had a share of the action with the cast and crew filming in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell.

Members of the cast and crew enjoyed spending time at Kamay, admiring the wildlife, cultural heritage and natural surroundings while filming the special holiday episode.

The leading cast visited the park and were spotted wearing camping gear in a campground that had been reproduced on the set.

Kamay Botany Bay National Park was selected as the producers were after an authentic bush experience, however little has been revealed about the plot line.

The holiday episode of Modern Family is due to air later this year on Channel Ten and is expected to reach 125 million viewers.

Every day people encounter wild animals in need of help and often they are found sick, injured and in serious trouble.

The task of finding help can be confusing, and the new mobile app ‘Wildlife Rescue’ is now putting people in direct contact with their nearest rescue organisation. The newly launched app is a joint initiative of International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)* and the NSW Wildlife Council (NWC)* and is free, easy to use and is available for use in NSW. 

There are three simple ways to download the app to your phone:

1. Via your phone's browser
2. Apple Store
3. Android Market

*Founded in 1969, IFAW is an organisation that saves animal populations and habitat all over the world. The NSW Wildlife Council Inc. (NWC) is the peak body for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in NSW, and represents over 3,000 wildlife rehabilitators.