May 2026
Our First Volunteer Picnic
8 March 2026
Before our first camp, we gathered for a casual picnic — our very first get-together as a volunteer team. It was a simple but special moment, putting faces to names and sharing a meal together as a community.
This is what Oot & Aboot is all about.
Photographer: Jesse Benjamin
Photographer: Jesse Benjamin
Our First Camp — Blackwood
18 April 2026
On 18 April, the very first Oot & Aboot camping event came to life at Blackwood Caravan Park!
Around the campfire, over shared meals, and through a classic game of Two Truths and a Lie, strangers quickly became friends. Laughing, connecting, and finding community.
The results speak for themselves: 100% of attendees rated fun and belonging at the highest possible score and said they’d absolutely come back. As one Ooter put it: "The conversations!”
Photographer: Leon Jordan
Photographer: Leon Jordan
Photographer: Leon Jordan
Our Second Camp — Point Leo, Mornington Peninsula
23 May 2026
Our second camp brought 12 Ooters to Point Leo Foreshore Reserve for a weekend by the sea. Despite the cool autumn weather, our heated gazebo became the heart of the campsite — a place where new connections were made, conversations flowed freely and nobody wanted to leave. We woke up to homemade Mediterranean sourdough and fresh coffee, with the sound of the ocean just steps away.
Every single attendee rated fun and belonging at the highest score and said they'd come back. One Ooter shared simply: "Socialising after feeling lonely earlier in the week." That's exactly what Oot & Aboot is here for.
Photographer: Tim Lai
Photographer: Tim Lai
Photographer: Tim Lai
Photographer: Tim Lai
Our Upcoming Day Hike — 1000 Steps, Dandenong Ranges
28 June 2026
Join us for a social group hike through one of Victoria's most iconic walking tracks. The 1000 Steps Kokoda Memorial Walk offers stunning fern gullies, fresh mountain air and great company.
It’s free for all Oot & Aboot volunteers to attend!
Our Upcoming Event in the Yarra Valley
18 July 2026
Our third camp is already in the works! We're heading to the Yarra Valley for another overnight community camp. Same relaxed, low-pressure vibe, beautiful nature and good company.
Volunteers receive a 30% discount on all camping events. Thank you for everything you do!
Help Get More Ooters Outdoors
We've just launched our very first community fundraising campaign on Chuffed! We're raising $3,000 to build a gear loan bank and help cover transport costs so that cost is never a barrier to joining an Oot event.
Know someone who'd love to support us?
Share our Chuffed campaign!
We're officially online!
Our website is now live — go check it out and show some love!
While you're there, explore our upcoming events, learn about what we do and share the link with anyone who might want to get involved. Every visit and share helps us grow.
Help Us Grow!
We're now at 177 followers on Instagram and 59 on TikTok — and we're just getting started! As volunteers you are our biggest champions and the best way to help Oot & Aboot reach more people is simple — follow us, like our posts and share them with your networks.
Every follow counts. Every share reaches someone who might need exactly what Oot & Aboot offers.
Follow us here:
Thank You to Our Donors!
We are so grateful to everyone who has supported Oot & Aboot in April. A heartfelt thank you to:
Andrew Miller — gazebo donation
Leon Jordan — quoits, crosses and knots game set, and branded shirts
Tim Lai — carved charcuterie board and Oot & Aboot campsite signage
Salman Khoja — $5,000 cash donation
Every contribution, big or small, helps us create more inclusive outdoor experiences for our community. If you'd like to support us, visit our Chuffed campaign or reach out to us directly.
Volunteer in spotlight
Meet Prakash Ratnam, Finance Manager at Oot & Aboot. While we’re out pitching tents, Prakash is pitching perfectly balanced books.
Thank you, Prakash, for the reliability, care and behind-the-scenes support you bring to Oot every month.
Welcome to Our New Ooters!
A warm welcome to our newest volunteers who joined us in April 2026:
Mark — Events & Activities Support
Evie — Community Fundraising & Donations
Camellia — Governance & Compliance
Matilda — Content & Blog Writer
Chiya — Grants Officer
Serein — Volunteer Communications & Community Content
Lekha — Grants Officer
We're so glad to have you on board!
We're Looking for More Ooters!
We currently have a few volunteer positions open and would love your help spreading the word. If you know someone who might be interested, please share these opportunities with them:
Events & Activities Support Volunteer
Camp Photographer (Volunteer)
Know someone who'd be perfect? Ask them to apply on Seek Volunteer — just search Oot and Aboot Outdoors.
A Message from Chair
We started Oot & Aboot because we believe that nature should feel welcoming for everyone — and every event, every volunteer, every donation brings that vision a little closer to life. Thank you for being part of it.
