Sustainability Forum, Adelaide Botanic Garden 2019
The latest cohort of Youth Environment Council (YEC) representatives has come together for their first event of 2019. On Thursday 9 May, 56 students from years 7-11 braved the elements of the weather to meet at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens for the annual YEC Welcome Forum. The YEC comprises students from across SA. This year we have representatives from areas far and wide including Kangaroo Island, Eyre Peninsula, Mount Gambier, the Riverland and metropolitan Adelaide.
Despite very wet weather on the day, members were keen to immerse themselves in nature. Nature based activities included a guided walk through the gardens between rain showers and a tour of the State Herbarium. However, the real focus of the day was to meet and share ideas with other students, and to think about the individual sustainability projects they will work on in their schools and communities throughout the year.
Four student mentors selected from last year’s YEC worked with enthusiasm and lots of energy to help NRM Education staff run the day and lead productive and interesting discussions during group sessions.
Working together inspired many of the students to come up with fantastic ideas. Topics of interest ranged from holding community events to increase awareness of issues including water pollution and locally threatened species to improving school waste systems and making recycled paper. Students also worked closely with others from their local area to identify external organisations and potential partners they could approach for support with their projects.
The YEC is now eagerly awaiting its next event for the year; a three-day leadership camp held at Arbury Park Outdoor School in Bridgewater. This is where the real project planning will get underway and students will have the chance to build their own skills and knowledge around various environmental issues.
Despite very wet weather on the day, members were keen to immerse themselves in nature. Nature based activities included a guided walk through the gardens between rain showers and a tour of the State Herbarium. However, the real focus of the day was to meet and share ideas with other students, and to think about the individual sustainability projects they will work on in their schools and communities throughout the year.
Four student mentors selected from last year’s YEC worked with enthusiasm and lots of energy to help NRM Education staff run the day and lead productive and interesting discussions during group sessions.
Working together inspired many of the students to come up with fantastic ideas. Topics of interest ranged from holding community events to increase awareness of issues including water pollution and locally threatened species to improving school waste systems and making recycled paper. Students also worked closely with others from their local area to identify external organisations and potential partners they could approach for support with their projects.
The YEC is now eagerly awaiting its next event for the year; a three-day leadership camp held at Arbury Park Outdoor School in Bridgewater. This is where the real project planning will get underway and students will have the chance to build their own skills and knowledge around various environmental issues.
