News

Queensland based Landcare groups recently worked with local schools in Yeppoon and Townsville as part of a Junior Landcare pilot project called ‘Enhancing student resilience through creating butterfly gardens.’ The Yeppoon State School were supported by Capricorn Coast Landcare Group and Capricornia Catchments; whilst in Townsville St Benedicts Catholic School and Oonoonba State School, worked with Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare.

Using a holistic approach, students were involved in three consecutive weekly workshops with specialist facilitators focusing on the themes of Being, Doing and Creating. These workshops were developed to give students the skills to manage their feelings, improve wellbeing and connect to their local environment.

Each week mindfulness techniques (Being) were practiced with environmentally themed yoga therapy sessions to helping the students develop focus and mindfulness techniques. Students worked with their local Landcare facilitators in the workshops to design and plant a butterfly garden (Doing) and build their social and teamwork skills. In the third workshop (Creating) the children worked with local artists to create paper butterfly seed artworks to decorate their new garden.

An evaluation plan reflection process for the workshops will be developed by James Cook University Townsville, this includes recording the wellbeing outcomes from the project. It is hoped that the groups can develop similar projects to help the community be more resilient following natural disasters.

Science Week grants

Grants from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources for Science Week 2021 offers an opportunity for schools and Landcare groups to work together. We encourage you to use the new Creating a wildlife habitat learning activities to help support an event in your area to monitor wildlife and understand local ecosystems.