Grants to get youth caring for land

A NEW round of grants has opened this month, encouraging education providers and youth groups to get kids involved in caring for the environment.

The Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants are now open, with $450,000 available for projects that involve young people actively caring for Victoria’s biodiversity and natural environment.

Schools, kindergartens, childcare centres, and youth groups can all apply for grants of up to $5000 for projects that encourage young Victorians to learn more about the state’s plants, wildlife and nature through hands-on activities or classroom learning.

More than 47,000 young people have been a part of the program, involved in 1100 nature-based excursions, and conducting 270 biological surveys through biodiversity focused learning activities.

Junior Landcare Biodiversity Grant recipients have also planted 99,000 indigenous plants across numerous landscapes to help maintain ecosystem health.

Past projects funded by the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants include the creation of a walking trail aimed at promoting opportunities for students to care for indigenous plants and animals on Phillip Island, transforming land with indigenous flora in Bundoora, and biodiversity-focused excursions to learn about local wildlife in Yarra Glen.

Applications for the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants will close at 3pm on Friday 14 June 2024.

For more information and to apply, visit environment.vic.gov.au.