ECEC invited to send Love Letters to the Land for 25-year Jnr Landcare Anniversary

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services have been invited to send ‘Love Letters to the Land’ in honour of the 25-year anniversary of Landcare Australia’s Junior Landcare program.

 

The Junior Landcare program has always recognised the vital role children and young people play in caring for the environment, and in 2023, as part of the 25th anniversary celebration, children are being asked to share what they love most about the environment, and what steps they are taking to protect it. 

 

The ‘Love Letters to the Land’ campaign is being supported by ABC presenter and Junior Landcare ambassador, Costa Georgiadis, and encourages children across the country to sit, reflect and connect with the natural world around them. 

This, Mr Georgiadis said, “is because we know that for children to become passionate environmental advocates, they must first develop a genuine connection with nature.”

 

“When we connect with nature; when we understand and when we love nature, then the next step is that we want to step up to protect it,” he continued. “For me, this campaign is about getting kids to take the time to observe how incredible nature is – from the local community park, beach or bushland to your backyard veggie patch or the plants on your balcony. I’m always inspired by the opportunities Junior Landcare provides children to engage with nature and can’t wait to hear from children themselves about the everyday actions they’re taking to step up for the planet.”

 

To help schools, ECEC services, youth groups and families to get started Junior Landcare has created a starter kit with a curriculum-aligned letter-writing activity, special letter templates and ideas of what to do with letters once they have been written, from posting them to sister schools to sharing them with a local MP.

 

In addition, sample love letters from Costa and other notable figures will be made available for added inspiration throughout National Biodiversity Month and Mental Health Month (September).

Children are also invited to share their letters via Junior Landcare’s website for a chance to receive a visit from Costa.

 

“With the intensifying impacts of climate change, we need to prepare and support the next generation to feel empowered to take action for our natural environment,” said Landcare Australia CEO, Dr Shane Norrish.

 

“This starts by giving children an opportunity to learn first-hand how they can care for the environment and biodiversity around them; understand where their food comes from, understand waste management and immerse themselves in First Nations perspectives. One small step in their local patch will lead to many small steps that will make a large and lasting impact.”

 

For more about Junior Landcare’s ‘Love Letters to the Land’ campaign, or to access letter writing templates, please see here.