Every day, across Australia, Junior Landcarers are taking action to protect the world around them.
Together with their teachers, classmates, parents, carers and community groups, there are lots of different ways children can get their hands dirty when it comes to caring for and connecting with their local environment.
Check out these 25 Junior Landcare ideas to try at home, at your school or with your Junior Landcare group.
Gathered from the Junior Landcare Learning Centre, schools, early learning centres and youth group, these are terrific examples of hands-on projects that can be done on any budget.
Remember, there are lots more ideas to discover on the Junior Landcare Learning Centre proudly supported by Woolworths, the Case Studies section and on the Junior Landcare YouTube channel.
If you have ideas or project suggestions of your own, we’d love to hear from you! Email enquiries@landcareaustralia.org.au with a chance to be featured in the Junior Landcare newsletter or blog!
1. Plant an Indigenous plant use garden
Grow native plants and bush tucker to discover new tastes and the many ways First Nations people have been using plants for thousands of years.
2. Turn trash into treasure
Repurpose items from the recycling bin into an assortment of animal sculptures for your backyard, schoolyard or local community garden.
3. Create your own tyre beds
Add visual impact to your garden and prevent waste from going to the landfill by upcycling old tyres into sturdy garden beds.
4. Make a water for wildlife station
Providing water is a simple yet effective way to help local fauna (animals) – and you can do so using materials you already have at home.
5. Build a vertical garden
A great project to do at home or school – recycle plastic bottles and use them as a space-saving way to grow herbs and other plants.
6. Create an ecosystems quilt
Make your own quilt, or use cardboard or a magnetic board to create a habitat backdrop for a fun and interactive way to explore ecosystems.
7. Make paper seed shapes
Turn waste paper or egg cartons into seed paper shapes – and help grow plants to attract pollinators at the same time with this fun activity.
8. Create an interactive bush tucker trail
Set up signage plaques with QR Codes to provide students and community members an easy way to learn more about native plants and their uses.
9. Build your own Air bee ‘n bee
From placing hollow stems into recycled cans to constructing nests from hardwood boxes, there are lots of ways to build your very own bee hotel.
10. Make artworks for tree guards
Create artworks to protect garden plants or for tree guards in your local setting, using coloured pencils, charcoal or paints made from clay or ochre.
11. Create a lizard lounge
Build a safe space for lizards using materials such as rocks, soil and natural vegetation, and see firsthand the benefits of creating something from scratch.
12. Propagate plants from scraps
Don’t toss out your leftover fruit and vegetable food scraps; use them to sprout or propagate plants for a fun and easy waste management activity.
13. Make your own natural pesticide
Cultivate happy, healthy plants using natural ingredients to get rid of unwanted pests such as aphids and scale.
14. Build a wiggling worm farm
Set up your own worm farm to create your own rich fertiliser to help plants grow stronger and healthier.
15. Create your own compost
Reduce the amount of landfill that is produced and provide your soil with lots of good nutrients with this easy composting recipe.
16. Make your own potato chips
Turn a crop of potatoes into a plate of hot chips with this rewarding activity to help kids grow, cook and market their own chips.
17. Mosaic old library tubs
Reuse old library tubs or bookshelves and turn them into garden beds that can be mosaicked with leftover tiles for even more upcycling fun.
18. Create a colour wheel garden
Assign children or classes with their own primary and secondary coloured flowers to plant, grow and attract a range of precious pollinators.
19. Keep a local seasons journal
Learn more about how First Nations people observe the seasons change and record your own seasonal observations with this printable local seasons journal.
20. Go on a bug hunt
Slow down and put on your insect goggles to discover the different types of bugs – the engine room of life – living in your local environment.
21. Plant a ‘harmony’ garden
Introduce young learners to foods that may reflect your school or early learning centre’s multi-cultural environment by creating a cultural or ‘harmony’ garden.
22. Make a newspaper seed starter pot
Plant a seed and watch it grow into a seedling, and then into a tasty treat ready for harvesting.
23. Make your own wicking bed
Wicking beds are not only a great way to repurpose materials, they help to grow plants in a sustainable and water-wise way too.
24. Build your own nest box
Nest boxes are an ideal way to help recreate habitat for our native birds, marsupials and microbats looking for a safe space to call home.
25. Plan a Junior Landcare Friendly Party
There are so many different ways to have fun and enjoy an event while also caring for the land, water, native flora and fauna.