Environmental Education Strategy - Campbelltown City Council ...

Environmental Education Strategy 2009 - 2012Appendix 4 – Existing Environmental Education Projects• Macarthur Sustainable Schools Network – The Network is a group of schools,DET Environmental Education Centres and councils from across the Macarthurregion involved in promoting sustainability initiatives within local schools. TheNetwork meets quarterly, and also has an established email network todistribute information. It is coordinated by staff from DET at the Camden ParkEnvironmental Education Centre;• Macarthur Sustainable Schools Expo – The Expo is an initiative undertaken bya committee of representatives from the Macarthur Sustainable SchoolsNetwork, and features a day of hands-on workshops for local students on arange if sustainability topics. A key feature of the Expo, which attracts up to 200students each year, is that it features ‘peer to peer’ learning, in that theworkshops are presented by fellow students, and not by teachers. Council staffare on the Expo Committee, and Council has been a financial sponsor of theevent also;• Schools Climate Change Initiative - The Schools Climate Change Initiative is agrant program funded by the DET and DECCW, to develop and undertake unitsof work on the topic of climate change. A cluster of schools is involved, beingKentlyn PS, Ruse PS, Leumeah PS and Leumeah HS. Council is a projectpartner, and it’s role involves providing technical support, as well as support inpromoting the project to the wider community to increase awareness of climatechange;• Macarthur Nature Photography Competition – The Competition is a Macarthurwide initiative coordinated by Campbelltown City Council which seeks toactively engage people with the local environment through nature photography.A number of photography walks are held in bushland areas throughout theregion, with the Competition culminating in an Awards Night and travellingphotography exhibition;• Threatened Species Art Competition - The art competition is held annuallytargeted at primary school children to draw pictures representing threatenedspecies found in the LGA. The art is then displayed at various Council facilities;• Sustainability Blitz – The Blitz series is a number of hands-on workshopsdesigned to encourage participants to improve their sustainability at home. Theworkshops, which are offered free of charge to local residents, include topicssuch as composting, worm farming, native gardening and attracting wildlife togardens, waterwise gardening, no dig vegetable gardening and green cleaning.These workshops have been undertaken by MCSL staff on behalf of Council.Fact sheets on these topics are also available on Council’s website;• Environmental fact sheets/booklets – Council has a number of fact sheets andbrochures on various environmental topics. These are available on Council’swebsite, at Council facilities, and are also offered at events attended byCouncil. Current fact sheets include the Rainwater Tank Information Pack, theCampbelltown Tree Planting Guide, the Campbelltown Native GardeningGuide, Neighbourhood Tree Disputes fact sheet, and the Indian Myna Guide;• Council website – There is a range of environmental topics on the Councilwebsite. This includes a range of fact sheets on home sustainability topics,current and previous State of the Environment reports, plans of managementfor key bushland reserves, and information on current environmental events;Version 2.03 18/3/10Page 45 of 48