YEC Central Regional Event 2018

Over the last couple of years, Youth Environment Council (YEC) members expressed interest in attending an additional event to the three normally scheduled for the year. They wanted more opportunities to connect, engage in activities which interest them and strengthen the outcomes and aims of the YEC at a local, regional level.

YEC members in the Central Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges region identified bird watching and animals as areas of particular interest. In response to this, the NRM Education team organised a one-day event for members with a range of activities based on these themes.

The venue chosen by the participating YEC members was Bonython Park (Tulya Wardli); a beautiful place to experience nature along the banks of the River Torrens. The event was attended by 11 students from eight different schools and it allowed them to reconnect and engage with nature through enjoyable and educational outdoor activities. These included animal-orientated icebreakers, get-to-know you activities, games and birdwatching activities.

On the day the weather was perfect, with the clear, sunny conditions allowing the members to use binoculars and identification charts to observe and record birds in Bonython Park and along the river. These habitat assessments compared the suitability of different areas in the park in providing habitat for birdlife.

Throughout the year, YEC members each complete a sustainability project in their school or community and this regional event provided the perfect opportunity for them to share and celebrate their current progress or to troubleshoot any challenges they’d encountered.

Both the NRM Education team and the YEC members are looking forward to the final event for 2018, the Sharing and Celebration Forum, which will be held at Cleland Wildlife Park in November. The YEC members will showcase their projects and celebrate their sustainability achievements with family, teachers, other students and invited guests.

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