Hello! Stacey Passey Programs Manager, Keep Australia Beautiful National Assoc. 02 8626 9396 Stacey@kab.org.au

1. Eco-Schools Australia Hello! Stacey Passey Programs Manager, Keep Australia Beautiful National Assoc. 02 8626 9396 Stacey@kab.org.au Slides and other handouts will be emailed to those on the attendance list

2. Wollongong Network & Eco-Schools • An overview of the Eco-Schools program • Becoming an Eco-School – an introduction • Eco-Schools Framework – 7 Steps • Forming an Eco-Committee Activity • Awards – Bronze, Silver & Green Flag • How to get involved – an invitation to take part • Eco-Schools Project Planning Activity

3. What is ‘Eco-Schools’? Eco-Schools is... “empowering students to be the change our sustainable world needs by engaging them in fun, action-orientated learning.” -Foundation for Environmental Education (Denmark)

4. Eco-Schools priorities – the WHY • Empowerment • Learning for Sustainability • Hands on ACTION • Environment • Respect & care • Pupil Leadership • Citizenship – of a local & global community • Democracy • Whole School & Community Participation

5. Eco-Schools Background • 1992 UN - Rio Declaration • Foundation for Environmental Education (Denmark) • 59 Countries • Results? Benefits? • 40,000 Schools, 14 million pupils, 1 million teachers • Environmental outcomes – energy use & waste reduction • Education & Pupil outcomes – relating to behaviour, confidence, citizenship & belonging • Eco-Schools England Report

7. How does it work? “Sustainability” is so broad – it can be overwhelming! • Framework (7 Steps) for schools to organise & prioritise sustainability education & environmental management • Milestone awards – celebration & recognition • An international community • Eco-Schools Connect Eco-Schools Malaysia Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYnTmgnUmmo

8. Activity: Form an Eco-Committee! • Name What is the committee called? • Forum A new group? An existing group? • Membership Who is on the committee? • Recruitment Election? Volunteers? Open door? • Meetings When do they meet? Where? Frequency? • Leadership How do pupils take leadership? • Whole School How do we inform/involve others? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UroTAX_1k1M http://www.fernfirst.dorset.sch.uk/news/introducing-eco-committee/

9. Awards Criteria & Progression • Schools have different starting points, budgets and capacity • 7 Steps • Action Plan Achievements • Bronze 1+ Theme • Silver 2+ Themes • Green Flag 3+ Themes • GF renewal Add more themes • Aim = 1 Award application per year • School chooses timing and award level • Continual improvement,rather than perfection

10. Get involved • Register at eco-schools.org.au ($100 per year) • Utilise subscribers-only website content • 7 Steps guidelines and templates • Themed action project ideas & resources sharing • Baseline Survey & Award Application forms • Detailed case studies written by Australian Eco-Schools • School Profiles: school details, award status & submissions log • Awards – 1 per year, self evaluate then online form • Bronze – desktop assessed • Silver – desktop assessed • Green Flag – desktop assessed + mentoring visit ($) • Training, events & support?

11. Activity: Themed project planning • Waste • Litter • School Grounds • Biodiversity

12. Eco-Schools project planning activity The 3 C’s – Campus, Curriculum, Community Environmental impact (Campus, Community, World?) Eco-School theme / project Curriculum links Parents Inform & Involve - Whole School & Community $$$ Cost? Savings?

13. Eco-Schools project planning activity The 3 C’s – Campus, Curriculum, Community • ICT • English • Mathematics • Design & Technology • Citizenship • Art & Design • Enterprise • Science -life processes & living thingsResearch; recording and displaying data (number of eggs laid); caring for animals; working in a team; designing the chicken pen; creating posters for animal care and handling; making food; life processes & living things • Developing the school grounds • Reduced food miles • Supporting organic food producers – through chicken feed • Reduced need to produce man made fertilisers - Chicken droppings used a liquid fertiliser in school gardens • Supporting animal rescue campaigns through battery chicken rescue • Using recycled materials for chicken pen • Using rain water for watering animals rather than processed water • Changing tarmac area in to area for animals School grounds – develop chicken pens and buy battery chickens Environmental impact (Campus, Community, World?) Eco-School topic / project Curriculum links • Increased interest in aspects of the national curriculum – hand on approach • Attendance increase through individual responsibility for animals • Home grown produce - Strengthening links with catering staff • Home ‘grown’ fertilisers – strengthening links with site managers • Charity campaign – focus on a relevant topic - rescued animals • Encouraging an interest in animals • Engaging disengaged pupils with practical activities • Support from parents – involvement with creating pen, donating materials • Parents encouraged to bring children in to school earlier due to pupil commitments • Parents taking home chickens during holidays • Feed & enclosure installation • Using own fertiliser • Using recycled materials or donated materials Parents Whole School & Community involvement? Benefits? $$$ Cost? Savings?

14. Story so far… Website Check out eco-schools.org.au NSW Macarthur Sustainable Schools Network – Launch 21st May Sydney Learning Community for Sustainability Katoomba, Blue Mountains NT & TAS Darwin & Hobart

15. Thank you – keep in touch! Stacey Passey Programs Manager, Keep Australia Beautiful National Assoc. 02 8626 9396 Stacey@kab.org.au www.eco-schools.org.au info@eco-schools.org.au

16. Award Criteria: Eco-Committee

17. Award Criteria: Action Plan

18. Award Criteria: Curriculum