Young Environmental Leaders thinking outside the square

Posted 31 August 2020.

This year the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board’s Young Environmental Leaders (YEL) program has had to adjust to the new world we live in and change how they deliver their face to face forums.

The YEL forums would usually have more than 70 students from 12 or so different schools coming together, but in these times that was not ideal.

So, the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board’s Education program worked on alternative ways to deliver their content which would allow students to take part in the YEL forums.

Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board’s Education officer Cindy Kakoschke said the new-look YEL forum included videos, online resources and hands-on activities that the students could complete in their own time, at school, or at home.

“Some schools chose to set aside a YEL day and complete all the activities at once, and some completed different parts over a couple of days,” Mrs Kakoschke said.

“In term two, the YEL theme was sustainable farming, with a focus on diversifying food production.

“We partnered with Loxton farming family the Schuberts, who have been varying what they grow/produce to include crickets.

“The Murraylands and Riverland Sustainable agriculture team also helped out with developing the YEL activities.

Online resources, activities and video content were produced to go with the theme which was provided through Microsoft Teams (an online meeting platform) and email to the YEL teachers.

The video content included; an introduction, what is sustainable farming, the benefits of farming crickets, and sustainable farming and the environment, as well as numerous downloadable resources and activities which complimented the students learning.

Mrs Kakoschke said the feedback we have received about the new-look forums has been positive and the format has worked well for all involved.

Check out the videos created for this forum which are on the YEL playlist on our Youtube channel. Or contact Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board Education officer Cindy Kakoschke on email for more information.

The landscape board’s Education team are currently working on content for the next YEL which has a theme of Biodiversity, with a focus on turtles. During this forum the students will have the opportunity to hear from turtle experts from across the country.

The Education Team is supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board through funding from landscape levies.