The incredible and inspiring actions of local students to protect our environment were on show at the annual Our Patch Science Fair at the Margaret River Heart recently.
Run by Nature Conservation Margaret River Region, Our Patch is one of the Capes’ flagship youth education programs. This year, more than 200 Year 6 students from six schools wowed shire councillors, parents, teachers and the community with innovative projects to protect local catchments and wildlife.
Over the year, nine participating classes learned about their local catchments from scientists, landholders and cultural custodians before zeroing in on a unique environmental issue and devising creative solutions. The exciting nature-based learning culminated this week with student presentations at the Our Patch celebration, which also doubled as a science fair for kids.
An outstanding environmental education program
Shire president Julia Jean-Rice has praised the program as outstanding and said the day marked the culmination of 3560 student hours of environmental education, much of it on country. Projects included:
- Margaret River Montessori School students studied micro-bats and the crucial role they play in our ecosystems and as pest control for agriculture and viticulture
- Karridale Primary students took a deep dive into what happens to poo on a dairy farm, looking at the role of dung beetles and an effluent separator
- Augusta Primary School students studied taxonomy of native species, and created signage for their school bushland inform the public of the common, scientific and indigenous names of local plant species
- Cowaramup Primary students gave critically endangered Western Ringtail possums a helping hand by learning to make possum nesting boxes with their local Men’s Shed.
- Rapids Landing students used virtual reality to create houses that follow water sensitive urban design principles
- St Thomas Moore students planted a ‘legacy garden’ with local native species
Our Patch fosters stewards of the future
Nature Conservation chair Ann Ward said Our Patch was unique because young people used science to learn about threats to our environment but then came up with and implemented real-life solutions. “These are our stewards of the future,” she said.
Nicole Lincoln, from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, said she loved being a guest presenter with Our Patch because it’s a “well-designed program that truly engages the kids… that results in outcomes delivered in real time, on ground – genius!”.
Earthcare Recycling’s Louisa Barnacle, who had St Thomas Moore Primary School students tour her property, said it was a “wonderful way to connect local young people to this precious and fragile place”.
And Rapids Landing teacher Tommy Collins said the “authentic, hands-on opportunities for students to connect with their local environment, develop scientific inquiry skills, and understand the importance of stewardship and conservation” had been amazing to see.
“Seeing students take ownership of real-world environmental investigations has been both inspiring and empowering, fostering curiosity, collaboration, and a genuine sense of responsibility for the natural world around them,” he said.
A community effort to protect Our Patch
Our Patch coordinator Ellie Ward said the program’s strength came from the huge community effort behind it. “Our Patch is truly a community-wide environmental education program,” she said. “Our future is in great hands. You have all delivered the most amazing projects, and you should really feel proud.”
She thanked the teachers, parents, students, local businesses, scientists and volunteers who all contributed. “Days like today prove what’s possible when a whole community comes together around nature and education,” she said.
The program is generously funded by the Paskeville Foundation, Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Lions Clubs of Margaret River, Cowaramup and Augusta, Margaret River Rotary and participating schools.
Paskeville’s Foundation’s Jocelyn Evans said she found the annual showcase was always “so inspiring” and she said helping to fund the Our Patch program was worth every penny.