Resources
Junior Landcare and Youth in Landcare
Schools and Landcare
Students and teachers have whole-heartedly
embraced the Landcare movement and natural
resource management is now an established
and valuable part of the school curriculum.
Your school can get involved in Landcare in a number of ways:
Find out about local issues
- Read and listen to media reports on degradation and find out how you can reduce your impact on the environment. There are many Australian websites which contain information on natural resource and environmental management issues. (See links below)
- Invite a farmer, landcare coordinator, council officer or facilitator to talk to your school community about degradation or natural resources in the local area to investigate what the problems are and how to address them.
- Visit a degraded site or take a bus tour through your catchment.
- Survey students, staff or local landholders to find out what people are concerned about.
Take action
Develop a landcare project:
- Design a landcare project that not only helps to restore a degraded environment but also teaches others about landcare. It is usually best to think small and work on something which can achieve change within a school term or year. Your project could involve removing weeds and rubbish, bush regeneration, planting trees, monitoring water quality or designing and planning rehabilitation activities.
- The success of your project will rely on thorough planning and research, and strong communication links with key people in the local community.
- Carry out a monitoring program to determine if your project, or the local landcare group's work, is achieving change and environmental improvements.
Form a landcare group:
- There are many school landcare groups operating around Australia. However, because these groups often rely heavily on the commitment and dedication of at least one teacher or member of the local community, they can be difficult to maintain in the long-term.
- Landcare coordinators and facilitators can help you set up a group and they have information sheets on a range of associated topics such as planning your project, maintaining a group, funding, sponsorship and insurance.
Link with a landcare or similar group:
- Contact a local landcare coordinator or regional landcare facilitator to find out about Landcare, Coastcare, Bushcare or Rivercare.
- Discuss with a local group how you can work together. Your school could become involved in the planning or activities of the group.
- Your school and the local landcare group could develop a joint landcare project.
Tell others
- Promote your landcare activities through the school newsletter and the local media. You could build a display which is used at shows, school fetes, field days or other events. Special events could also be used to raise funds for the school landcare project.
Get support
- Identify all the separate issues and groups involved in your landcare project. List people who can help with advice, machinery, labour, administration and financial matters.
- You will need the support of the teachers, students and broader school community.
National Landcare week
- National Landcare Week is held in the first week in September each year. Groups throughout Australia undertake special activities during the week to raise the profile of landcare. Your school could get involved with the activities of other groups or develop your own activity to tell people in the community about landcare.
Awards and Grants
- Landcare Australia Ltd's partners support the landcare efforts of the nation's youth through the Westpac Landcare Education Award and Junior Landcare Grants Program.
Youth forums
- Environmental forums for youth, such as the River Health Forum, are a great way to bring secondary students together, get them thinking about land and water degradation issues, and how they can be involved in addressing them.
Staff development
- Undertake staff development for teachers on natural resource and environmental management issues.
Check out the case studies below to see how some school groups are tackling landcare issues.
LINKS
This state-based list of links and resources
is continually developing. If you have
something to add, tell us. You will also
find useful project information in the
Group Resources, Practical Landcare
and Annual Report sections.
New South Wales
http://www.landcarensw.org/Schools1.htm
http://www.agric.usyd.edu.au/current/ug/landcare.htm
Visit the NSW Department of Education and Training for information on its Environmental Education Policy.
Creswick Landcare Centre
The Green Kit and Caboodle Compiled by Jeannette Murray, Published by Greening Australia is aimed at Primary School kids, and consists of activity sheets covering 11 topics. Teachers can then photocopy these activity sheets. The Kit costs $40.00.
More information ph: (02) 6772 3248.
Queensland
http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/education/students/
Landcare Discovery Centre
The Landcare Discovery Centre is an environmental education and tourism facility serving the whole of the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin area. It offers field trips, excursions, and tours for adult groups and schools. The Landcare Discovery Centre can provide locally relevant information about the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin to landholders, community members, teachers, schools, industry and visitors. Landcare staff can also assist schools with curriculum-based resources and activities. Visit the Landcare Discovery Centre to find out about their full program.
http://www.qmdc.org.au/
http://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/area/science/resources-other.html
Victoria
http://www.alphaville.com.au/~clc/
http://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/GA/VIC/OngroundAction/Projects/SW/warrambeen.htm
LandLearn – environmental education in schools website for teachers
LandLearn is a website developed in Victoria to support teachers in environmental education. The site includes information on resources, teacher support & PD, fieldwork and a newsletter. The web address is
South Australia
Department of Education and Children's Services
Western Australia
http://www.beverleywa.com/Avondale/LandcareEducation.htm
http://www.eddept.wa.edu.au/deo/MIDLANDS/Landcare/talec
For Schools
Provides: resources and education programs, special events and teacher developments information.
The Water and Rivers Commission is committed to supporting schools in educating our State's youth so that they may become partners in the future management of Western Australia's water resources.
Tasmania
http://www.discover.tased.edu.au/landcare/contaclc.htm
Northern Territory
Department of Employment, Education and Training
ACT
http://www.landcareweb.com/lclibrary/edulcare.html
NSW Environmental Protection Authority
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