Final lesson at the seaside

It’s a wrap for 2024 for the students of the Young Environmental Leader Program (YELP). The student leaders met for the final time in Robe recently to collaborate and showcase their work for the year.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board Young Environmental Leader Program (YELP) provides students in years 5 – 6 with hands on environmental experiences, a sustainability project of their choice and leadership development.

Inspiring each other and their passion for the environment the students showcased their sustainability projects to their peers in an expo event. With a presentation that described their project, provided outcomes and learning along with the knowledge shared amongst their school communities’ students took great pride in presenting.

St Anthony’s students, inspired by learning about microorganisms in Science decided to focus on using fungi to ‘close the loop’ of paper resources as their sustainability project.

Julian Rebellato, a teacher from St Anthonys, said the students were so engaged in this project they used paper that was destined to be recycled off site, to grow oyster mushrooms.

“Not only were the students able to harvest and eat these mushrooms, but they were also able to reduce the energy required for the transportation of the paper which will now be composted to build the soil in the school’s vegetable garden,” Julian said.

“The Young Environmental Leaders Program is a fantastic program that can be incorporated into many elements of the school curriculum.”

Limestone Coast Landscape Board educator Damien Bickley this year students took on the challenge of involving their whole school community.

“From mushroom farming with recycled paper, to establishing environmental groups within the school and creating native bee gardens and providing signage for the local community,” he said. “The whole school were actively involved which is a fantastic outcome for spreading the awareness of environmental education.”

Sustainability projects for 2024 can be viewed at the Mount Gambier Public Library in the coming weeks to give other passionate environmental leaders in the community the opportunity to further understand the program.

If you would like more information on the Young Environmental Leader program visit the website lc.landsape.sa.gov.au