Engaging with Nature
Engaging with Nature is a whole of environment biodiversity monitoring program based on observational data collection undertaken by a school, a class or a group of students at a local site. Data collected is shared between participating schools to build a bigger picture of their site, catchment or region. Ongoing monitoring by schools will build greater understanding and ownership of local environments.
The monitoring is connected to an essential ‘taking action’ component of Engaging with Nature that is a response to the environmental indicators. Towards the end of the year, sharing events at key regional monitoring sites will showcase student learning to other schools and the local community.
Significant benefits include:
- improved student well-being through connecting with nature
- improved understanding of environmental systems and their function
- hands-on, transformative learning through monitoring and taking action
- new skill sets – linked to vocational education and training outcomes
- Australian Curriculum linkages and alignment
- greater custodianship of local open spaces and their role in biodiversity conservation
- school networking and sharing through site or catchment clusters
- schools showcasing their skills and learnings with their local community and other schools.
Click HERE for more information on the benefits of addressing suatainability.
Engaging with Nature - Teacher Information Pack (3.5MB pdf)
Engaging with Nature - Brief Overview One-pager (788KB pdf)
Professor Chris Daniels, the Presiding Member of the Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Board outlines the reasons why the Engaging with Nature program is so important
We are keen to hear from schools that are interested to become involved with the program. Please fill in our Engaging with Nature Registration Form to register your interest.