This is a thoughtful long term initiative funded by the Natural Resources Advisory Council of NSW that through the application of a partnership and pooling of resources between Landcare in Schools and Earthcare Earthshare that young people will be encouraged to not only develop a stronger appreciation for the natural environment but will assist and encourage them to foster life long links with Landcare.
Ultimately it would hope to ensure a support base of present and future generations of active Landcarer supporters and volunteers.

Background Brief  
Landcare in Schools in the Lake Macquarie LGA has developed some contact with approx 50 individual schools as groups, out of a total of approximately 190 schools. Landcare in schools is part of the Landcare movement that has the main work objective of ‘sustainable land management’ that also fits into school grounds within the urban matrix. Often schools have the largest areas of ‘open space’ within suburbia and also support a wide range of urban wildlife eg Wood Duck, Common Ringtail Possum providing Landcare with scope to be involved with a wide range of activities.

Unfortunately the application of Landcare in Schools to the present has been ‘ad hoc’ with minimal planning, resources or dedicated staffing (non existent) being made available to resource such projects. With that said, Landcare in Schools could be a popular way of both government and non government (eg Catholic system) to deliver on ground environment education through written curriculum. If additional resources and promotion occur, far more schools will engage in Landcare in schools, thus additional awareness of youth with regard to the environment will occur along with additional biodiversity occurring in Lake Macquarie schools as the project progresses.

Earthcare Earthshare has addressed Natural Resource Management Education by developing a program for schools entitled  “Wise Lives Now!”
A fun and imaginative exploration of natural resource management assists children’s understanding of other relevant and topical concepts and issues such as ecological sustainability, energy flows, connectedness to nature, climate change, conservation, responsibility to future generations and the importance and relevance of Landcare to the environment present and future.

ECES uses a unique teaching and learning approach. It addresses growing concerns noted by educators particularly early childhood teachers of the increasing busyness of children’s lives and a distancing and orientation away from nature towards the latest toy, electronic gadget or tantalizing entertainment.

In reconnecting children to their natural environment, it uses a more heart centred and fun approach combining outdoor experiences, a love of stories and story telling, a respect for traditional people, guided imagining and visualising activities, fantasy and fables and meditation.

For effective teaching and learning ECES appreciates that increasingly the school environment needs to become more a normal part of the child’s everyday school experience.
With Landcare’s experience and expertise the project therefore will aim to provide schools with ideas that will assist in developing more appropriate outdoor play spaces to assist children to reconnect with and improve their relationship and empathy towards and for their natural environment.

This project at the same time will link to the broad objectives of Forging Partnerships and will bring together a wide range of people and organisations to work on quality Natural Resource Management outcomes. This includes experienced NRM professionals (eg officers from Lake Macquarie City Council, Lake Macquarie Landcare Inc.), interested teaching staff, members of parents and citizens groups, school students along with local residents that have an interest in making the local school environment a healthy environment. (eg reduction in crime as the school is cared for). The feasibility of providing a mentoring role in schools by some of these groups will also be explored.

As the project itself is a ‘working model’ for student based NRM activities. Individual projects can be smaller working models that can be replicated in not only other Lake Macquarie schools but throughout metropolitan areas of Eastern Australia such as Sydney and Brisbane and nationally.

Overview of Syllabus Links

Use of Resource  materials will also assists schools meet the mandatory curriculum objectives of the Environmental Education Policy for Schools (NSW Dept. Education & Training, 200l):

Students will develop:
knowledge and understandings about:

• the nature and function of ecosystems and how they are interrelated (K1)
• the impact of people on environments (K2)
• the role of the community, politics and market forces in environmental decision‑making (K3)
• the principles of ecologically sustainable development (K4)
• career opportunities associated with the environment (K5)

skills in:

• applying technical expertise within an environmental context (S 1)
• identifying and assessing environmental problems (S2)
• communicating environmental problems to others (S3)
• resolving environmental problems (S4)
• adopting behaviours and practices that protect the environment (S5)
• evaluating the success of their actions (S6)

values and attitudes relating to:

• a respect for life on Earth (V1)
• an appreciation of their cultural heritage (V2)
• a commitment to act for the environment by supporting long‑term solutions to environmental problems (V3).

Links to Syllabus:

The project contributes to satisfying the following syllabus outcomes. Students will:

• better appreciate how our living now impacts, influences the quality of the environment and life for future generations.
• increase their understanding of ecological sustainable management issues.
• increase their understanding and appreciation of our planet's natural systems of life
• increase their understanding of, feeling for, and harmony with the earth and its life
• enjoy its wonders and get to know living things that share our world.
• understand their connectedness to all life
• understand their impact on these connections and results of breaking these connections
• explore sustainable management practices
• undertake personal lifestyle changes in order to begin living more in harmony with their natural environment
• experience the magic of solitude, silence and the peace in their natural surrounds

Issues/ topics covered by the project to include:
The project involves on ground, hands on environmental education of youth (5-18 years of age) through Landcare in Schools.

• Sustainable life habits and sustainable land use
• Urban ecology, urban wildlife, urban habitat restoration/ renewal
• Reduction in erosion through landscaping
• The amenity of local indigenous tubestock
• Heath (both physical and mental) of young people through the participation in Landcare
• Climate Change
• Reduction of ecological footprints
• ‘Ecosystem services’ created by doing Landcare

What is to be achieved? What are the anticipated outcomes of this project?
The main objectives of the project are to:

• Provide teachers with access to “Wise Lives Now!” Sustainable schools program to facilitate education of natural resource management principles.
• Assist schools in complying with requirements of Environmental ed policy and provide support for their Environmental Management Plan (SEMP). 
• Increase the environmental knowledge and skills of school students in the Lake Macquarie LGA
• Improve children’s relationship to their natural environment
• Provide additional support to school groups through specialist Landcare in Schools staff (funded through this project)
• Provide additional resources in the form of plants and mulch to the 57 Landcare in Schools groups
• Increase the number of Landcare in Schools groups in the Lake Macquarie LGA
• Increase the health, physical and mental wellbeing to students in the Lake Macquarie LGA through increased levels of physical fitness through participation and mental fitness through a sense of accomplishment and individual ownership
• Increase the levels of wildlife in schools in Lake Macquarie
• Increase the visual amenity of schools and the level of habitat in schools through the use of local indigenous plantings

Flow on outcomes to include:

• 15 000 local indigenous tubestock planted in school grounds in Lake Macquarie
• An increased level of knowledge of volunteer coordinators of Landcare in School groups through newsletter communication, field days and meetings.
• An expanded Landcare in Schools project in Lake Macquarie
• An increase in the number of environmentally aware youth in Lake Macquarie

In the future (2007 and beyond) the project will expand to include sibling camps (i.e father/son, mother/ daughter etc) that will include environmental workshops such as no dig gardens and birdwatching.

Ideas for transforming school playground environments:
Below are some “start up” ideas  followed by some more detailed and visual examples (photo galleries) of projects that schools have completed or undertaking.
We would like this section to be more comprehensive that will offer to schools a wide range of projects that are not only practical but creative and imaginative. The more examples and variety the better so to assist other schools with ideas we would appreciate your help. If you feel your school has achieved something special and you would like to share please provide us with details of your schools projects.

• To create  habitats - planting a range of trees, shrubs, climbers and grasses provides a range of homes for animals.
• To restore biodiversity - encourage birds, lizards, insects, frogs and spiders and other animals into your 'garden'.
• To provide corners and other spaces throughout your school that will provide pleasure, shade, play and study areas for present and future generations of children.

Ideas:
1. Beautifying unused parts of the school ground.

2. Restoring and improving existing garden areas

3. Transforming used / unused areas into:

• Quiet reflection areas
• Dream spaces
• Peace gardens
• Sensory trails
• Bush tucker
• Shade areas for eating lunch, play or outdoor classroom

4. Rehabilitating areas at risk

5. Utilising runoff and storm water

• Creating small wetlands
• Creating ‘frog bogs’

6. Adopting a neighbouring natural area to school for restoration

7. Designing environmental murals or mosaics

The following projects totalling $26,169 have been awarded to community groups and schools within the City of Lake Macquarie are examples of environmental education projects.

Playground Drainage, Rehabilitation and Outdoor Learning - Coal Point Public School - $2,981
This project is part of the ongoing implementation of Coal Point’s School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP). The project aims to create native gardens, an outdoor learning area and nature walk through the school. The school is on a very steep site and the creation of the native gardens will prevent erosion and therefore sediment from entering the Lake via Wippi Reserve. The gardens will cover the exposed roots of large trees and also provide habitat for the native fauna residing in the school grounds.
The outdoor learning area will be utilised to facilitate learning about the environment and will be constructed in an amphitheatre style. The seating arrangement of the amphitheatre will also act as a swale system, reducing the amount of runoff and directing residual water into the existing drainage network. The nature walk will complement the planting of native plants and the outdoor amphitheatre.

Greening and Screening - Swansea High School - $875
This project proposes to establish a working model of a cyclic system of organic waste recycling to prevent food waste from the Food Technology area of school going to landfill. The organic waste would be directed into a worm farm and compost. The worm castings and compost would be used to fertilise the proposed herb garden. The herbs grown would then be used in cooking classes. The working model would then be made available for other subject areas to monitor, analyse and report on.
This project is directly linked to the environmental principles being taught in the mandatory Design and Technology (Yrs 7-10) subject, elective Food Technology and Hospitality (Yrs 11-12) subject and the Human Society and its Environment syllabus.

Stop the Mudslide - Biddabah Public School - $1,500
This project seeks to improve the management of water runoff above the existing outdoor learning area to allow for year round use, and prevent erosion of sediment entering the adjacent tributary of North Creek. This project has strong links to the School’s Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) and has been developed in conjunction with the Landcare Resource Office.
The project was funded through the Environmental Education Small Grants Program last year, but after commencing the project, the school decided that additional funds were required to construct additional swales due to the volume of run off present after the original swales were constructed. It is proposed to plant native flora around the swales to further reduce runoff, and create additional habitat for native fauna.

A Cultural Journey Bushwalk - Wakefield Public School - $3,000
This project involves the creation of a Cultural Journey Bushwalk within the school grounds; a visual display of Aboriginal and European cultures in harmony with the bushland environment of the School. A bush tucker component would be included to enhance the overall environmental educational experience. The bushwalk is to be an ongoing living educational tool that will provide students with an understanding of the local environment, its history and cultural influences.

The Nature - Awaba Public School - $1,000
The Nature project involves holding a planting day with the School’s students and the community. Groundcovers and mid level shrubs will be planted to rehabilitate the bottom of the school grounds around existing large trees. This project will also involve the construction of nest boxes for birds and small mammals by the students as part of their Science lessons.

Greening the School - Speers Point Public School - $1,641
This project includes the removal of weeds, planting of local natives, labelling the native plants, creating a path through the garden and a creative play area within the garden using wood cut outs. A set of lessons to support environmental education in this native garden will also be created as part of this project.

Spring Action Taps & Bubblers for the Main Toilet Block to Blackalls Park Public School - $860
During the school’s water audit it was observed taps and bubblers were dripping whilst turned off and are often not completely turned off. The aim of this project is to reduce the water consumption of the school through the installation of spring action taps, bubblers and the modification of the toilet cisterns so they need less water to flush. The students will undertake monitoring of water wastage.

Stormwater Education - Awabakal Environmental Education Centre - $2,750
The aim of this project is to teach the 1500 students visiting the Awabakal Environmental Education Centre (EEC) about the link between water quality and pollutants that enter catchments and waterways from urban infrastructure. This project involves the conversion of a stormwater junction box adjacent to the EEC into a gross waste and sediment trap with viewing lid. An interpretive sign and worksheet will be produced. Students will undertake water quality monitoring using the Waterwatch kit.

The Herb and Vegie Frog Habitat – Redhead Public School - $1,598
The aim of this project is to increase habitat for native fauna; involving the installation of nest boxes and bird feeders, planting of local natives, vegetable/herb garden, establishment of a worm farm and composting bins, and the creation of a frog pond. The students will be involved in researching the plants that provide the best habitat for native fauna and a competition to design the most frog friendly pond.
This project has strong links to the School’s Environmental Managemnet Plan (SEMP).

Regeneration of Flaggy Creek - St Josephs Primary School Charlestown - $3,000
This project aims to regenerate the school boundaries that align Flaggy Creek, in the hope to improve water quality in the creek. The project will involve the removal of noxious weeds, litter/rubbish and then planting the riparian zone and surrounding area using local native plants that have been propagated by the students in the school’s shadehouse. The students will undertake water quality testing before the regeneration works and immediately after. The school will undertake regular maintenance along the creek, which will involve weeding, removal of rubbish and regular mulching.

This project has been developed in conjunction with the Landcare Resource Office and Trees in Newcastle.

Playground Rehabilitation and Erosion Control - Bonnells Bay Public School - $1,464
This project aims to rehabilitate the school grounds to prevent ongoing soil erosion problems. The project will involve the planting of local groundcovers around large existing trees that have exposed roots to help reduce erosion in the playground, along with the planting of a sensory garden. Lesson plans will be developed for both the Human Society and its Environment and Science & Technology syllabus’ utilising the on ground component of this project. The project assists with the implementation of the School’s Environmental Management Plan (SEMP).

Community Walkway - Bolton Point Landcare Group - $2,500
Bolton Point Landcare Group proposes to create a low environmental impact walkway in conjunction with planting natives alongside Lake Macquarie, from Bolton Point to Fennell Bay. The proposal has received support from the Bolton Point Community Renewal project, the Quigley Environmental Sustainability Team, the Landcare Resource Office, and Council’s Community Planning Department. Hunter Water has provided $5,000 towards the project.
The project would involve the creation and installation of interpretive signage and artworks. The creation of the signs will involve local school students, artists and the Aboriginal community. The signs will cover the area’s environmental history, environmental protection activities that can be undertaken by residents, local fauna and flora, natural features, and both Aboriginal and European heritage.

Education is the key, the environment is the place to be - Waranda Aboriginal Landcare Group - $3,000

The aim of this project is to assist schools, community groups, and members to implement environmental education with an Aboriginal perspective. The Group will undertake six workshops during 2005-06 and create a resource guide for workshop participants. Four of the workshops are to be undertaken at local primary schools and the remaining two will be available to community members.

The workshops will provide participants with an Aboriginal perspective on caring for the environment; the traditional use of local native plants, uses of land, land management techniques and the Dreamings that shaped the landscapes of Lake Macquarie. Bush Tucker tastings and native plantings will also be included.