Celebrating 25 years of Junior Landcare.
For over 25 years, Junior Landcare has been opening children’s hearts and hands to landcare.
Junior Landcare has always recognised that young people play a vital role in caring for our natural environment. At the same time, we know that being outdoors and in nature is important for the mental, physical and social wellbeing of children too. It’s a win-win!
Established in May 1998, the Junior Landcare program connects young Australians with Landcare, one of the country’s largest volunteer movements working to protect, enhance or restore our natural environment in local communities.
Through grants, campaigns and learning resources for use at home, in the classroom or in a youth group, Junior Landcare also provides children – no matter where they are in Australia – the opportunity to understand nature, connect with it and take action to protect the world around them.
Since 2020 alone, and with support from our partners, more than 400,000 children have gotten their hands dirty learning where their food comes from, understanding biodiversity and waste management and embracing First Nations perspectives through the Junior Landcare grants program.
In 2023 we celebrated our 25th anniversary with new resources, the Love Letters to the Land campaign and a spotlight on young Landcarers.
Thank you for all your ‘Love Letters to the Land’
Hundreds of letters poured in from across Australia for Junior Landcare’s special 25-year anniversary letter-writing campaign. From Surfside Primary School in Victoria to Falcon Primary in WA; from South Hobart Primary School in Tasmania to Hunter Valley Grammar School Early Learning Centre in NSW – we were blown away by the beautiful messages and actionable steps children of all ages shared about taking to protect their local patch.
“The more you engage with nature, the more you appreciate it; and the more you appreciate it, the more likely you are to want to protect it,” shares Costa.
Thank you to everyone who took part in this campaign. We received over 1,000 letters and photos. Click on the button below to view these from our future landcarers.