NRM North Education has continued to support schools in the northern region to take action on the ground by adopting environmental projects that increase understanding of environmental and sustainability issues and improve the health of the local environment. NRM North sees the education program as fundamental in developing a population that is knowledgeable and committed to creating a sustainable future.
NRM North's Education Program aims to:
- Engage and involve school communities in conserving and managing natural resources in ways that will initiate a change of behaviour to benefit future generations;
- Increase knowledge, understanding and appreciation of natural resources;
- Present relevant information to school communities in a way which is user friendly and interesting; and
- Develop education programs and projects that ensure effective engagement of students in environmental education and learning for sustainability.
A successful NRM Education Program raises awareness, changes behaviour and engages the younger generation. The program provides students the opportunity to identify if natural resource management is an area of interest for their future career. There is a growing awareness of the effects of human civilisation on the health of the planet and the need to reduce our footprint if future generations are going to inherit a healthy planet. The NRM North Education Program provides funding, educational resources, training and classroom activities to students and enables teachers to achieve syllabus outcomes and increase knowledge of environmental issues.
NRM North's Education Program has initiated involvement with schools through a variety of avenues. A school environmental grants program has been introduced and has attracted significant interest. This program offers funds to schools for environmental works including community gardens, rehabilitating local bush areas, planting 'bush tucker' areas, or setting up a water monitoring project. Also, a number of different education streams are being developed which align with the NRM North program areas. These will offer teachers the background knowledge they need to comfortably teach environmental topics and will also provide access to classroom visits with hands-on components.
What have we achieved
Six northern schools received funding through the NRM North School Environmental Grants Program for projects in 2012. Nine schools who received funding in 2011. The current projects include; weed control and revegetation, school food gardens, native garden establishment, and a school orchard enclosure.
The Education Officer has also visited a number of schools for hands-on activities and presentations on topics such as:
- Introduced species;
- Water quality monitoring and 'waterbug' identification;
- Marine debris beach clean-up;
- Native plant seed collection and propagation;
- Revegetation planting days;
- Rubbish audit; and
- Drain stencilling.
The Education Officer has also been involved with; the Cressy Fishing Expo, Longford Show, Campbell Town Show, one day student forum as part of the Australian Maritime College/Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery student photography competition, and Woolmer's Estate Rose Festival.
For more information or to organise a school visit, contact Michael Black on 6333 7775 or mblack@nrmnorth.org.au
