Young environmental leaders from across the Limestone Coast met recently to finish off their year of learning as part of the Young Environmental Leaders Program.
The expo, held earlier this month in Robe, enabled students to gather and present their sustainability projects and celebrate the growth and achievements that occurred during the year.
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board Education Team has delivered the program for over 10 years, overseeing a steady increase in participation with more than 90 students involved in 2021.
Students were excited to be a part of the Limestone Coast Landscape Board event, which encourages youths to think about environmental issues that impact our region.
Glenburnie Primary School teacher Shelley Boylan said the program was a wonderful opportunity for children to get out in the landscape and further develop their knowledge on critical environmental issues that will have an impact on their future.
Glenburnie Primary School students focussed their project on reducing soft plastics within the environment.
“It was fantastic to see the whole school get on board with the project and support the Young Environmental Leaders, with a massive 500 litres of soft plastic rubbish collected over the year,” Ms Boylan said.
“It has been a fantastic outcome.”
The expo allowed students to share, learn and develop their leadership skills when presenting their sustainability projects to other students from participating schools.
It also provides a chance to reflect and discuss how they have had a positive impact on their school peers and the greater school community.
This year’s Robe event included a Welcome to Country by Uncle Ken Jones, and a smoking ceremony by First Nations elder Doug Nicholls.
Mr Nicholls also shared his knowledge during education sessions and highlighted the significance of First Nations culture and the strong connections First Nations people have to Country.
Birdlife Australia presenters Anne and Steve spoke to students about their passion for resident and migratory shorebirds and Kids Helping Cockies project coordinator Bronwyn Perryman spoke about the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and how the project aims to maintain and revegetate feeding and nesting habitat for these amazing birds.
