Exceeding-rated Fun Club Thirroul making waves with sustainability efforts

Exceeding-rated outside school hours care (OSHC) service Fun Club Thirroul, operated under the Big Fat Smile group has shared the way in which it is leading the way to a sustainable future through efforts led by the children. 

Children are working to learn and practice efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, joining with educators and Director Bridy Garnon to combine fun and sustainability. 

“We understand the importance of protecting our natural environment and the need for implementing sustainable practices,” Ms Ganon explained. 

“Our service is a community of educators, children, families and school members who share a vision of minimising the ecological footprint, maximising opportunities for change and the opportunity to educate others.”

As a part of the service’s approach to reflective programming, the team of educators meet regularly to discuss interests raised by the children attending the service, and ways they can implement them into their educational programs. 

Aspects already implemented by Fun Club Thirroul include:

• Paper-making to supplement the large amount of paper used in the service
• Reducing the use of plastic items including gloves and cling-wrap
• Watering can used for excess water (used for watering plants)
• Baking banana bread and other healthy snacks to reduce plastic waste from store-bought goods
• Re-using and re-purposing materials where possible, including the creation of a Rubbish to Riches corner, where children can reuse items for arts, crafts and play
• Establishing a worm farm for worm tea to nourish their gardens and compost bin for our fruit and vegetable scraps.

They have also started their own veggie garden, where they are currently growing lettuce and potatoes, used for cooking within the service. The veggie garden has been sourced by Ms Ganon through donations from the local community, and recently the service secured donations of 20 bags of soil, pavers and other items from their local Bunnings Store in near-by Bellambi to renovate the garden.

The children of Fun Club Thirroul also banded together to represent their commitment to sustainability through collaborative art. The piece, entitled Saving the Ocean ft. Seaweed the Turtle represents the service’s commitment and efforts to do their best to ensure they take responsibility to protect and preserve the beautiful natural world they love and enjoy.

To learn more about Fun Club Thirroul please see here.