Children urged to show appreciation for nature

AS PART of its 25th anniversary, Junior Landcare is calling on children to share what they love most about the environment, and the steps they are taking to protect it.

Teaming up with ABC presenter and Junior Landcare ambassador Costa Georgiadis, the “Love Letters to the Land” campaign is encouraging children across the country to sit, reflect and connect with the natural world around them.

“When we connect with nature; when we understand and when we love nature, then the next step is that we want to step up to protect it,” Mr Georgiadis said.

“For me, this campaign is about getting kids to take the time to observe how incredible nature is – from the local community park, beach or bushland to your backyard veggie patch or the plants on your balcony.

“I’m always inspired by the opportunities Junior Landcare provides children to engage with nature and can’t wait to hear from children themselves about the everyday actions they’re taking to step up for the planet.”

To help schools, youth groups and families get started with their Love Letters to the Land, Junior Landcare has created a starter kit with a curriculum-aligned letter-writing activity, special letter templates and ideas of what to do with letters once they have been written, from posting them to sister schools to sharing them with your local MP.

Sample love letters from several notable figures will be shared throughout National Biodiversity Month (September) and Mental Health Month (October).

These include letters from National Farmers’ Federation CEO Tony Mahar; Indigenous writer and co-founder of the Firesticks Alliance, Victor Steffensen; 19-year-old founder and CEO of environmental NGO Co-exist Kurt Jones; 2018 Australian Geographic Young Conservationist of the Year Sophia Skarparis (Plastic Free Sophia); Intrepid Landcare chair Annette Cavanagh; and 2023 Northern Beaches Young Citizen of the Year Noah Smith.

Children are also invited to share their letters via Junior Landcare’s website for a chance to receive a visit from Mr Georgiadis to their school or youth group.

“With the intensifying impacts of climate change, we need to prepare and support the next generation to feel empowered to take action for our natural environment,” Landcare Australia chief executive officer Dr Shane Norrish said.

“This starts by giving children an opportunity to learn first-hand how they can care for the environment and biodiversity around them; understand where their food comes from; understand waste management and immerse themselves in First Nations perspectives.

“One small step in their local patch will lead to many small steps that will make a large and lasting impact.”

For more information about Junior Landcare’s ‘Love Letters to the Land’ campaign, head to juniorlandcare.org.au/love-letters-to-the-land