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Costa and Junior Landcare team up to encourage children to get outside and explore
Freya Lucas
Sep 06, 2022
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Gardening guru Costa Georgiadis and Junior Landcare are encouraging Aussie kids to get outside and explore this September with the “what’s in your backyard?” initiative.
Children, Junior Landcare said, can’t be involved in caring for the environment if they don’t love it, and one way to encourage children to love the environment is to “get their hands and feet on it.”Throughout National Biodiversity Month and the school holidays, children are encouraged to grab a camera, or use a mobile phone camera, to capture photos of the flora and fauna in their backyard, and then share them with Costa and Junior Landcare, explaining why their backyard is important to them.
Children (via their parents, carers and educators) can submit photos to the Junior Landcare website, under one of four categories including biodiversity, food production, First Nations perspectives and waste management, to be in the running to win one of ten cameras (RRP $250) and other great prizes.
One school or youth group will also win a visit from Costa to check out their environmental projects. Joining Costa as a campaign supporter and host of Channel 10s The Living Room, Barry Du Bois, says that he wants his 10-year-old twins, Bennett and Arabella, to experience the same sense of wonder around nature that he had when he was young.
“As a young boy, I loved exploring the creeks, beaches, animals and secret hiding spots in my own backyard, and I want that for Bennett and Arabella. There’s something magical about nature, and the ‘What’s in your Backyard’ campaign will help kids to find that magic in their own backyards.”
The initiative is a key activity of Junior Landcare’s Learning Centre. The online platform features fun, easy-to-use learning activities developed by education professionals to help children be aware, empowered and active in caring for their local environment.
The resources have all been designed to help children build knowledge and deeper connections to biodiversity, where their food comes from, recycling and waste management, and First Nations perspectives.
This year, together with First Nations educator, Wiradjuri man Adam Shipp, 10 new First Nations learning activities have been developed by Landcare Australia to teach children and educators about how to have a connection to Country.
“Young people play a vital role in caring for our environment, which needs all the help it can get! Junior Landcare gives children – no matter where they are across the country – the opportunity to understand nature, connect with it and take action to protect the world around them. With Junior Landcare, we are educating the next generation of Landcarers – and this starts with parents, carers and educators encouraging simple moments outdoors,” Costa said.
The ‘What’s in your backyard’ campaign opens today, 6th September, as part of National Biodiversity Month, and closes on 31st October.
Find out more at www.juniorlandcare.org.au
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