First YEL forum for 2018 a hit with students
The first Southern Flinders Upper North Young Environmental Leaders forums for 2018 were held recently in Port Augusta and Wilmington.
Eighteen students and four teachers from Flinders View, Stirling North and Augusta Park Primary Schools, and twenty-eight students and six teachers from Orroroo and Hawker Area Schools, Wilmington and Melrose Primary Schools and Jamestown Community School attended the forums.
Natural Resources Northern and Yorke Landscape Ranger Cameron Watson said the first forums introduced the concept of ‘Kids Teaching Kids’, a learning model which empowers students to pick an environmental topic for their school and then teach other students about what they have learnt.
“The students have an opportunity to become experts on an environmental topic of interest, and then take their new knowledge back to their peers to teach them in a workshop-style session that should include hands on activities and elements of creativity and student involvement,” Mr Watson said.
“Students spent the forum brainstorming different learning styles, identifying ways to deliver interactive workshops, looking at potential environmental topics for their ‘Kids Teaching Kids’ project, learning about sustainability and making team badges to wear throughout the program.”
The program is designed to connect students to nature and local spaces, encourage inquiry-based learning, establish an understanding of sustainable land management practices and give students, parents and teachers the opportunity to meet technical experts.
Augusta Park Primary School Year 5/6 teacher Kimberley Marden said that her entire class was really excited and looking forward to being part of the YEL program.
“Our students are already thinking about how we can make the most of being part of YEL and creating environmental change in our school and community,” Ms Marden said.
“As a teacher I am really looking forward to seeing our young people stand up and make change, and for them to be the real drivers of that change.”
Funding and support for the Young Environmental Leaders program is provided by the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board through funding from the National Landcare Programme.
Schools interested in learning more about the Young Environmental Leaders program should contact the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Centre in Clare on 8841 3444 or visit http://www.landscape.sa.gov.au/ny/get-involved/education
