Holidays are over and we're already back into the school routine. Isabella was eagar to go back as she knew she would be receiving her 'Environmental Leader' badge. Ours is a 'sustainable' school which means that anything to do with the environment is a big deal. A large percentage of the school's power comes from solar energy, the toilets are flushed and the grounds watered with tank water. The kids get to look after the vegetable garden, orchard, chooks and until recently a sheep. Behind the school is a large nature reserve full of native flora and fauna and has an area known as 'Nature's Classroom'.
I think these sort of experiences are really valuable for kids and so does my friend Loretta who is involved with Gardeneers a great program for kids at the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society in Canada. 'Gardeneers' is designed to get little kids in touch with nature. From watching a seed grow to exploring garden wildlife, composting and worm farms, kids get to get down and dirty while exploring the whole around them.
Too often kids hear about all the terrible things that are going to happen if pollution and global warming are not addressed. From their point of view it must seem very strange to be surrounded by grown-ups who don't know how (or worse still don't care about) fixing the problem. Old habits die hard. Projects like sustainable schools and 'Gardeneers' empower kids to become part of the solution and hopefully some of the boundless enthusiam for change they generate may rub off on the rest of us. Fingers crossed!
Sounds like a brilliant program. I'd like to see more environmental badge work for Guides. We do a lot in the unit but there's little reward for the kids.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like such a good idea! Getting kids to see sustainable behaviour as the norm is so important. I love that Isabella was keen to go back and be an environmental leader :-)
ReplyDeletexo Francesca
This sounds like an amazing school.....I just love that children are so conscious of their environment.....and so inclusive too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely feedback guys. It is an amazing school and I agree that making sustainability the norm is so important. I can imaging that it would be something that Girl Guides could really get into Katie. Perhaps your pack could nominate some of their own rewards?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great thing- wish we'd had it when I was at school!
ReplyDeleteI hope that soon all schools will start programmes like this- kids are never too young (or too metropolitan) to learn about planting and harvesting food, water conservation, and animal care! :-)
Such a great idea - even though I'm scared stiff of chickens I do recognise that they are great for getting kids to learn important things about sustainability etc. As someone who works at a newspaper I can say there do seem to be so many schools out there doing green stuff that our future looks to be in good hands (as long as we keep them away from the giant plasmas!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Caz, I love the sound of the school Isabella attends. Why isn't that the norm. Gardeneers has been so much fun, Isabella would love it. I'm reading an amazing book at the moment - Last Child In the Woods. I highly recommend it and I'll send it to you if you can't find it there. It is all about getting children back to nature. I love your blog.
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Thanks Loretta. I can't seem to leave comments on your blog but I've loved your recent posts - you write so beautifully about our connections to the past and to our natural world. I laughed when I read your post about the clothes line too!
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds like an awesome school! I hope there is one like that near me whenever I have kids! Those are beautiful hennypennies too. *s*
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