Nine schools from across the Macedon Ranges came together on Tuesday for Earthwatch’s massive Kids Teaching Kids environmental conference at Hanging Rock.
The atmosphere was electric as excited pupils delivered and participated in hands-on activities addressing environmental issues in the region.
Kids were supported by mentors from Macedon Ranges council, Newham and District Landcare Group, Riddells Creek Neighbourhood House Environment Group and others.
Earthwatch chief executive Fiona Sutton Wilson explained the pupils came up with the various programs delivered on the day, as she watched over a workshop called Connecting to Country.
“Kids Teaching Kids is all about finding things that they’re interested in, and for them to come up with ideas around what they want to learn, they learn about it and then they share those learnings with others,” she said.
She observed as pupils put together Connecting to Country passports, acknowledging the Aboriginal land they lived and learnt on.
Emmett, a pupil of St Mary’s Primary School Lancefield Romsey, was one of two masters of ceremonies for the event, alongside Maggie, 11.
“It’s fantastic, I love teaching people about stuff that we need to know and create awareness of,” Emmett said.
Emmett was one of the pupils who learnt knowledge to pass onto his peers – his workshop was about insects.
“I love how there’s just so many different types of bugs and instead of thinking of bugs in a bad way, like they’re pests, I think of them in a good way now, that they help our world,” he said.
“I have already learnt about habitats.. That was an amazing workshop that [Hesket Primary School] put together.”
There was a famous face among the hordes of children too – Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis loved being a part of the program.
“We need to get children into nature, but also remind them that they are nature,” Costa said.
“Nature’s not out there, it’s around them all the time and whether that’s just looking in a puddle and seeing that there’s life there.
“Or picking up that leaf and looking at a leaf… or moss through a macro lens and seeing nature for all its intricacies and its delicate beauty, that’s enough to wake them up for months.”
Elsie Lange
