YP students to swap the classroom for the beach

During the first round of YEL workshops, 60 primary school students from 11 schools explored ideas for living sustainably, looking at the environmental, economic and social impacts of human’s actions.

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke Community Ranger, Fabienne Dee said the structure of the workshops allows students to explore complex issues in a fun and informative way.

"Young Environmental Leaders workshops are a great way for students to mix with peers from different schools and learn about the natural environment," Ms Dee said.

"Our next series of workshops ‘Beaches are Habitat’ will give students the opportunity to visit local beaches and observe nature at work, discovering the answers to questions like what makes this a suitable habitat, how does it work and what part do we play?"

Students learned the importance of communication through an activity that explored the different ways people manage renewable resources, enabling students to experience first-hand some of the pressures that influence choices between personal and shared gains.

The first round of workshops wrapped up with students being given time to plan for their own school-based sustainability project.

Ms Dee said schools taking part in the Young Environmental Leaders Program are supported by Natural Resources Northern and Yorke staff and have access to resources and funding of up to $500.

"We are looking forward to reading the many varied and interesting sustainability project ideas that the students come up with as the grant applications roll in," she said.

Curramulka Primary School successfully applied for a grant to produce a brochure encouraging visitation to the Curramulka Bush Park. The brochure features a story written by the students of the journey of ‘The Three Emus’ with activities for sensory stops along the Curramulka Bush Park trail. The brochure will be used as part of a Young Environmental Leaders workshop planned for Curramulka in August.

Lisa Stephenson from Minlaton District School said "Students have enjoyed taking part in the program and learning about the environment and how they can make a difference. The activities are interactive and fun as well as being educational."

For more information about the YEL program, Environmental Education or resources to support nature based education please visit our website or contact the Natural Resources Centre in Clare on 8841 3444.