12 September 2024
The Eco-Warriors Environmental Leadership Training Program
Middle and Senior School Eco-Warriors combined forces on 16 August this year for our first Eco-Warriors Environmental Leadership Training Program. Funded by Boroondara Council, the program was hosted in collaboration with CERES, an environmental education centre, community garden and social enterprise hub based in Melbourne, on Wurundjeri Country.
The hands-on program involved students in the exploration of a range of social and environmental issues, their personal strengths as leaders and environmental champions, and strategies for amplifying student voice and leadership within the school community. They also learnt valuable tools for negotiating with school leadership to assist with the realisation of their goals.
We are extremely grateful to Boroondara Council and CERES for providing a program that was both enjoyable and extremely helpful in developing the next stage of our journey as student champions for the environment. We would also like to thank Mr Walter, Ms Croft, Ms Plaisted and Mr Dendle for coming by to spend time with us during the program, and to Mr Bramley who was also there to support us. Planning has already begun for expansion of our first major project which students have called ‘Rewilding Carey’, including an extension to the existing wildlife garden, and the addition of rocks and further plantings. We are also fundraising to help with the purchase of a bird bath, nesting boxes for microbats and birds, garden tools, watering cans and other equipment.
This month, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Bunnings for their donation of $300 to the Eco-Warriors. These funds will be used to assist with the purchase of the plants and bird bath for the wildlife garden. We are also extremely grateful to those parents and students who contributed to our mini bake sale on 15 August.
Finally, we are delighted to congratulate Hamish Bramley on his appointment as our first Community and CLOSA Captain with responsibility for the new Environment Portfolio. Hamish has been a very important member of Eco-Warriors and its predecessor, the Carey Environment Group, for a number of years, and we look forward to supporting him in his new role.
Student feedback on the Environmental Leadership Program
The Environmental Leadership Program was great because we learnt lots of new and innovative strategies to spread our message.
We learnt that in order to spread our message, we must appeal to the student body, and once we get the attention of the students, we can achieve great things.
We can use this information to help us to complete more projects in the future.
Annika, Year 7
I really loved the variety of activities, including the drama and movement activities, which made the program really fun. It was really good to combine with Senior Eco-Warriors to meet new people.
The most important thing I learnt from the program was collaboration skills and how to properly plan and execute an idea.
I would love to run a bake sale with other members in Term 4 to raise money for a bird bath for the wildlife garden.
Hazel, Year 9
I enjoyed that the program was interactive, not just telling us what to do but incorporating activities that demonstrated the effect of the strategies we were learning.
The most valuable thing I learnt was that, when leading, it is most important to consider the needs and capabilities of those who you are leading because otherwise they will be unable, or unmotivated, to follow you.
We will apply the strategies in our future Eco-Warriors programs such as the upcoming projects that we have planned for the end of term as well as when implementing the new initiatives we are planning for 2025.
Morris, Year 11
Dr Julie Wetherbee
PhD Experimental Marine Ecology, PhD Candidate Indigenous Education and Education Policy
Teacher and convenor of Carey Eco-Warriors, Carey student alliance for regenerative futures
