YEC students celebrate their successes
On Thursday 3 November, 41 students from across South Australia celebrated their involvement in the 2022 Youth Environment Council (YEC) at a Celebration Forum in Adelaide Botanic Garden.
Despite recent rainy conditions, the weather on the day was perfect, allowing the students to participate in enjoyable, entertaining activities, embracing the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature, and sharing their personal research and action projects with each other.
The students were able to choose from activities including nature journalling; a botanical treasure hunt; making seed bombs and newspaper pots; investigating bird behaviour; and searching for insects and other invertebrates. Their posters and displays covered a diverse range of topics including food gardens; recycling stations; a radio interview with local tradesmen about recycling in their supply chain; fundraising for environment and community organisations; research on local threatened species; composting; creating wildlife gardens; litter clean ups; and comparing the growth of native spinach vs baby spinach.
A visit from a panel of past YEC members who shared knowledge about their experiences since participating in YEC was a highlight of the day, prompting the students to reflect on their own experiences of the year.
After lunch each of the YEC students created a painting using Aboriginal symbols with Sasha Hill, a Yamatji/Noongar woman, a mother and lover of all Aboriginal art. It is fair to say we have some incredibly talented artists in the YEC.
The day wrapped up with the opportunity for the YEC students to showcase their projects to VIPs and family, and receive a certificate during a ceremony with guest speakers.
Quahli Newchurch, Cultural Officer with Southern Cultural Immersion and a proud Kaurna, Narungga, Kokatha woman welcomed us to Country, and Green Adelaide Board member Dena Vassallo praised the YEC members for their dedication and creativity.
Despite recent rainy conditions, the weather on the day was perfect, allowing the students to participate in enjoyable, entertaining activities, embracing the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature, and sharing their personal research and action projects with each other.
The students were able to choose from activities including nature journalling; a botanical treasure hunt; making seed bombs and newspaper pots; investigating bird behaviour; and searching for insects and other invertebrates. Their posters and displays covered a diverse range of topics including food gardens; recycling stations; a radio interview with local tradesmen about recycling in their supply chain; fundraising for environment and community organisations; research on local threatened species; composting; creating wildlife gardens; litter clean ups; and comparing the growth of native spinach vs baby spinach.
A visit from a panel of past YEC members who shared knowledge about their experiences since participating in YEC was a highlight of the day, prompting the students to reflect on their own experiences of the year.
After lunch each of the YEC students created a painting using Aboriginal symbols with Sasha Hill, a Yamatji/Noongar woman, a mother and lover of all Aboriginal art. It is fair to say we have some incredibly talented artists in the YEC.
The day wrapped up with the opportunity for the YEC students to showcase their projects to VIPs and family, and receive a certificate during a ceremony with guest speakers.
Quahli Newchurch, Cultural Officer with Southern Cultural Immersion and a proud Kaurna, Narungga, Kokatha woman welcomed us to Country, and Green Adelaide Board member Dena Vassallo praised the YEC members for their dedication and creativity.
