News

A Jerrabomberra Wetlands environment group catering to ACT youth with an ‘acute’ interest in nature is set to represent the territory on a national stage after winning the Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award at the 2019 ACT Landcare Awards.

Only three years old, ACT Youth Rangers Club was established in 2016 after a persistent group of young people between the ages of 8 – 15 kept turning up volunteering events at Jerrabomberra Wetlands including turtle days, bird catching, bird walks and talks and other related activities.

And maintained at a low cost so all can participate, these Young David Attenborough’s learn about all aspects of nature through tree planting, weed control, pollinator counts, catching turtles for monitoring, Frogwatch, Waterwatch, Latham’s Snipe capture, butterfly surveys and construction of native bee houses.

So serious are these young environmentalists, five Young Rangers were recently selected to travel to Japan to speak with authorities about the importance of Latham’s Snipe habitat conservation, and to work with the Wild Bird Society of Japan to survey Latham’s Snipe in Hokkaido.

‘The Young Rangers program enables young people to develop an interest in the environment, to learn the practical application of looking after the environment and to be able to go into their communities to promote the importance of environmental conservation,’ said Lori Gould of the ACT Youth Rangers Club.

‘And as they get older, they will be able to take this expertise forward to become keen environmental citizens, benefiting society at large.’

The ACT Young Rangers Club will go on to represent the Territory at the 2020 National Landcare Awards.

And proud sponsors Woolworths commended the youth rangers on their outstanding accomplishments.

‘ACT Youth Rangers Club are very deserving of this recognition, and their dedication to protecting natural assets is an inspiration to us all’ said Chelsea Moffat, Woolworths State Support.

‘Woolworths works closely with Landcare Australia to inspire the next generation of environmental champions, and it’s wonderful to see the environmental warriors of ACT Youth Rangers Club and all other award nominees, living the Junior Landcare spirit.’