Empowering KI’s young environmental leaders
Kangaroo Island's Young Environmental Leaders (YEL) have been busy gaining hands-on experience in feral cat eradication and sustainable agricultural practices.
The Young Environmental Leaders (YEL) program offers primary school students the opportunity to learn about their local environment through hands-on activities and projects, while developing as leaders within their school community.
Open to students in Year 5, YEL is a collaboration between the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board (the Board) and Kangaroo Island Community Education (KICE). Forums are held once per term during school time at different locations on the island.
Most recently, students participated in a showcase of sustainable agriculture activities to learn about water, soil, vegetation, carbon storage and weeds.
As part of the activities, students were assigned a map of a Kangaroo Island property and developed a property management plan from information gained through various sustainable agriculture information stations.
In addition, YEL students gained hands-on experience learning about the cutting-edge technology deployed by the Kangaroo Island Feral Cat Eradication team to combat the island's apex predator, feral cats.
Bellen a student from Parndana campus was excited to learn more about the Board’s feral cat eradication program.
“I thought the feral cat YEL activity was very important because it taught kids about cameras and cat traps,” Bellen said.
Kangaroo Island Landscape Board Environmental Officer, Deb Laver, said the benefits of the YEL program are far-reaching.
"Students participate in hands-on activities and projects, while also learning and practising skills in leadership, communication and public speaking," Ms Laver said.
"All of these experiences will help them in developing as leaders in their school community," she said.
"Our goal is to empower young people by fostering a strong connection with nature and their local landscape, ensuring they can appreciate it into the future."
Keely Benwell, a teacher from KICE Kingscote Campus said students benefit from learning outside of the classroom and making it relevant to what goes on around the island and how they do it.
“Getting students to understand leadership skills and qualities, for example what makes a good leader,” Ms Benwell said.
Sherilee Binstead, a teacher at Penneshaw campus agreed.
“It’s great to see students from different campuses working together,” Ms Binstead said.
Addison, a 10-year-old student from the KICE Parndana campus enjoyed the YEL activities.
“I thought the YEL activities are important because you need to respect nature,” Addison said.
For the final YEL activity for 2025 in term 4, the Board is teaming up with the KI Dolphin Watch volunteers to learn more about the long-standing, community driven conservation initiative.
“We’re excited to showcase some of the great work that our local community does in the conservation space,” Ms Laver said.
“Participating in the KI Dolphin Watch program will be nice way to celebrate the student’s hard work throughout the year and also learn more about our marine and coastal environment,” she said.
