Inspired Young People Win National Award
Inspired Young People Win National Award
Two young Shoalhaven students, with support from Shoalhaven Landcare, entered their environmental research project in a national competition, and they won.
Building our Future -
LLCI024-008
The issue
Shoalhaven Landcare recognized a need to identify and engage with young, passionate and motivated people to generate increased participation in environmental activities and increased commitment through project ‘ownership’. In 2017 and 2018, Shoalhaven Landcare with the help of Intrepid Landcare, organised several activities to encourage and motivate young people. The first of these was not well attended, but the ‘right people were there’. This was the catalyst: events that followed demonstrated the ongoing potential and capacity of inspired young people.
The solution
These activities instigated the Shoalhaven Intrepid Landcare Expo by a Year 12 student in 2018. At this event, like-minded students from three high schools discussed their passions and participated in activities including building nest boxes for sugar gliders. Year 7 students Lizzie and Micah then developed their own project to explore the optimal nest box placement involving geospatial tools, research, analysis and ground-truthing. The students received support from their teacher, school and Shoalhaven Landcare for their project which was entered into the 2018 Geospatial Information Competition. It can be viewed here.
The impact
Lizzie and Micah will receive their award for winning this national competition at a gala dinner in Melbourne in April, where they will showcase their work to the geospatial industry and learn how geospatial tools can be used in the real world. The benefits however stretch beyond these two wonderful young people. Shoalhaven Landcare has now built a partnership with Nowra Christian School and continues to plan activities together, especially at the nearby Worrigee Nature Reserve, which has also expanded our partnership with National Parks and Wildlife Service. Shoalhaven Landcare is proud to have supported these young people and is excited to explore and support future opportunities.
Learnings
- Don't be prescriptive. There is no 'magic' minimum number to make events viable. It is all worthwhile when 'the right people attend'.
- Listen, be open-minded and provide support. The potential is limitless.
Key facts
- Identifying and supporting inspired young people
- Value-adding outcomes by finding synergies in projects
- Maintaining relationships by offering and utilizing opportunities