After the success of the launch of this professional development day for Primary and High School educators in 2023, Kimbriki Eco House and Garden hosted this course again on Friday 20th September 2024. The day is designed to support educators and increase their understanding of how sustainability and waste can be taught in schools.
We were blessed with great weather again this year with a mix of Primary and High School participants along with three Waste/Sustainability Education Officers. Participants had come from various areas including local schools and as far afield as Newcastle and Forster to engage with our experienced educators.
This course has been designed to support educators to incorporate sustainability into their programs and whole school planning with hands on practical activities. Our aim is for educators to feel confident with integrating sustainability into their lessons and empower them to create changes in their schools to minimise waste and showcase sustainability in everyday actions.
Many of the participants were motivated to come on the course to increase their understanding of the set up, operation and implementation of school composting systems to tackle the large volume of food waste currently filling schools landfill bins and the educational opportunities link to doing this. Others were keen to hear case studies and ideas from other schools regarding successes and challenges in tackling waste and sustainability in a school setting.
The Kimbriki waste principles of the 4 R’s – Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle underpin the day and were embedded in all of the hands-on activities and supported by our resources available on our Resource Hive.
After exploring where we sit as educators amongst the International Sustainable Development goals and Federal, State and Local policies on Waste and Sustainability, we stepped into exploring our schools recycling systems and the advantages of running a Waste Audit supported by our Resource Hive.
Our two school case studies were invaluable to all to understand the challenges, the ideas and options as well as successes that can be achieved. We are always so grateful to have schools involved in presenting at our Professional Development Days as they provide so much insight and opportunities for collaboration.
A locally supplied light lunch was enjoyed along with fruits and tea from the Eco Garden admist our hands on activities section of the day which included Composting and Worm Farming in schools; Wicking in School gardens, kindly presented by Eric Sturman of WaterUps and concluded with Sensory Garden Activities connecting in with nature, mindfulness, citizen science, science experiments and art.
Due to the kind support of Australian Native Landscapes, Tumbleweed, WaterUps and Up On The Rooftop; some lucky participants were fortunate to receive a Lucky Door Prize of a WaterUps Planter, a Tumbleweed Compost Bin, a Tumbleweed Worm Buffet or an Up On The Roof Top Root Pouch and Olla to accompany their delightful Boomerang Bag of resources.
We were so pleased to receive such wonderful feedback on the content, engagement, structure and scope of the day. Highlights were varied but included our wonderful hospitality and passion; simplification of steps and procedures we offered on composting and worm farming; hands-on experiences; hearing from others and sharing ideas together.
“I felt re-inspired”
“Having a whole day to think about waste & sustainability with no other distractions!”
“Revisiting all the things I knew – reminding me & re-energising me! I need to get teachers and students motivated and now I feel more motivated to do this!”
