2019 nrm education achievements report · • held at ngeringa winery, mount barker, a garlic farm...

2019 NRM EducationAchievements Report

NRM EducationInspiring and empowering young people to connect with and value our environment.

NRM Education ProgramThe NRM Education Program in the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin region is playing a critical role in inspiring and empowering young people to connect with and value our environment. This report highlights some of the achievements from 2019.Why do we work with young people?Approximately 23% of South Australia’s population is made up of young people up to the age of 18.

The youth of today will be the resource managers and decision-makers of the future.

Working with students fosters lifelong learning skills and achieves meaningful social change.Schools are often the heart of the community and can play an important role in influencing family and community members to take informed action related to natural resource management (NRM) issues.Connecting with nature is also shown to have huge physical and mental health benefits, especially for children.

How do we work with young people?The NRM Education team is currently made up of four education officers (2.8 FTE) and a team leader. The team delivers a range of services to schools including youth leadership programs, teacher training, education sessions, technical support, and opportunities to participate in on-ground action. This program is funded by the SA Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resource Management (NRM) Board and the NRM levies, enabling landholders and community to play an active role in our region’s future.

Our goalsCreate positive behaviour change and build leadership capacity through increased knowledge, skills and participation in natural resources management.Provide opportunities for the broader community (particularly young people) to connect with nature.Build a community that is well informed, empowered to take action and can to adapt to change.

“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it.” - David Sobel

Meet the team

Danielle DutschkeMurray BridgeGrowing up on a farm near Karoonda, exploring the outdoors has always been one of Dani’s favourite activities.

This led her to become a member of the River Murray Youth Council in high school.

Her interest in the environment drove her to study in Cairns and to complete a sustainability project in Africa. Her goal is to share with others how amazing and important the environment is.

Danielle PackerBerriDanielle was born in Adelaide and moved to the Riverland in her early teens. She is passionate about taking care of the environment and spends a lot of her spare time volunteering at Gluepot Reserve.

Being a mum of a young family Danielle believes it’s really important to develop children’s interests so that as they become older this interest becomes a lifelong passion, or possibly even a career.

Cindy KakoschkeBerriCindy grew up in the Riverland and while she left for a time to pursue a graphic design dream, the smell of rain on red dirt and the gleam of the river brought her home.

Passionate about the Riverland region and getting kids outside to experience their local environment, Cindy hopes to inspire young people to appreciate their backyard and learn how to preserve what we have for future generations.

Angela BreedingMount BarkerAngela grew up in outback South Australia, which is where her love for learning about the environment developed.

She loves seeing the light bulb moment young people have when something clicks.

Angela also wants to get more young people connecting with their local parks and places. Her favourite spot in the region is Lake Bonney at Barmera, where she spends her summer holidays with her family.

Jem TesorieroMurray BridgeJem grew up in Adelaide where he enjoyed the environment of the backyard, parklands, creeks and beaches.

Since finishing uni he has lived in several towns on the River Murray.

He loves working with the hardworking, enthusiastic and passionate NRM Education team and supporting them to empower young people and nurture their love and understanding of nature.

Upper Murray (Riverland) Lower Murray and Mallee Team Leader

2019 fast facts

61 out of 77 schools in the

SA Murray-Darling Basin

worked with the NRM

Education team

192 Year 5-7 students from

33 schools became Young

Environmental Leaders

(20% increase in number of

students from 2018)

28 high school students

members of the River

Murray Youth Council

97 teachers learnt about

environmental issues at

professional development

sessions (49% increase

from 2018) 16 media mentions

including newspaper

articles and radio

interviews

2326 students participated

in more than 75 classroom

sessions on frogs, bats, water

quality, macroinvertebrates,

wetlands, tracks and scats,

birds and the River Murray

Our programs and activities fit together like puzzle pieces. When combined, hey have a huge ripple effect as the student leaders and teachers we work with take their new knowledge and skills back to the wider community in the hope of building a more sustainable society.

What we offered this yearYoung Environmental LeadersMore than 190 students from 33 schools in the SA Murray-Darling Basin region participated in the Young Environmental Leaders (YEL) Program. Each term we visit a local place and learn about a new topic.Students earn badges by sharing their knowledge and skills through presentations to their classes, writing newsletter articles, running activities with younger students and taking action to look after the environment.There are three YEL groups - Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu, Murraylands and Mallee, and Upper Murray.

River Murray Youth CouncilThe River Murray Youth Council (RMYC) is a fantastic opportunity for high school students who are interested in the environment to come together to meet new people, learn new skills and have input into what should be done to protect our natural resources.Our goal is to empower young people to make decisions about their local places and contribute to a healthier local environment.There are two RMYC groups; Upper Murray and Lower Murray.Members visit local sites including national parks and wetlands where they take part in hands-on activities and on-ground projects that help to conserve and protect the environment.

Teacher professional developmentAt professional development workshops, teachers hear from experts about different environmental topics and have the opportunity to network and share ideas over afternoon tea.

Citizen scienceCitizen science is the collection, analysis and sharing of knowledge by members of the public. Citizen science projects enlist everyday citizens (such as students) to collect or analyse data for real-world research studies.Students take part in the Waterwatch water quality monitoring program and bird and bat workshops. They use apps to collect data about frogs, echidnas, birds and turtles.Citizen science allows students to become the eyes and ears for their community.

Resources, loan kits and supportWe provide lesson plans, activities, resources and loan kits that enable teachers to explore environmental topics in depth. We also offer one-on-one support to teachers to help them plan their lessons and activities or improve sustainability at their site.

Education sessionsWe offer a range of sessions that can support teachers’ lessons. Presented either in class or on site at a local spot, the sessions are interactive and engaging. Topics include frogs, native plants, wetlands, soils, the River Murray, bats, macroinvertebrates, threatened species, tracks and scats and other environmental issues.

Our themes: linking with government prioritiesThis year we aligned our program with the Department for Environment and Water’s priorities:• Connecting people with nature, parks and places• Sustainable farming and healthy soils• Pest plants and animals• Enough water for everyone.Activities at YEL forums, RMYC project days, and professional development topics aligned with these themes.

Pest plants and animalsPest plants and animals and over-abundant native species can have harmful impacts on our environment. Their management contributes to thriving native species and ecosystems.

Young people learn about why these species are a problem and how we all have a part to play in preventing and controlling them.

Sustainable farming and healthy soilsSustainable farming and improvements to land management practices are important ways to achieve a productive, climate-resilient and biodiverse landscape.Young people learn about where their food and fibre comes from and how to support farmers.

Connecting with nature, parks and placesOur region has some amazing local parks and places, and it is important for young people to know about and care for these places.

Research has shown there are many benefits from connecting with nature including mental and physical health benefits.

Water for everyoneWater is a key part of life in the SA Murray-Darling Basin region. A healthy, working River Murray is vital to support the health of the environment, industry, communities and the economy. We teach young people about the function and management of the River Murray and wetlands, as well as ways to conserve water.

Young Environmental LeadersTerm 1: Connecting with nature, parks and places/Sustainable farming and healthy soils• Held at Coorong National Park, Currency Creek EcoCentre and Gurra Downs.• Students learnt about sustainable and organic farming methods, dates and

pomegranates, the importance of soils, bush tucker, soil moisture monitoring, the Coorong, pelicans, Harmony Day, Ngarrindjeri culture, the Storm Boy movie, bush survival skills and water filtration.

• Activities included soil testing, tasting bush tucker, making damper, performing Ngarrindjeri dances, making bliss balls with dates, sharing languages, building shelters and making water filters.

Student feedbackI learnt there are many varieties of dates and how important soil is.I learnt about the Coorong and where all the water that fills it travels and comes from. I also learnt about the traditional Ngarrindjeri dance!

Teacher feedbackThey actually worked well as a team! They involved everyone in the group at all times. Being out of the classroom broke down any barriers between kids.I loved to see the passion of one of my Aboriginal students and his sense of pride for his culture and Country was incredible.

Discovering how native plants can provide food and medicine

Inspecting the date crop

Learning about date farming at Gurra DownsLearning the Ngarrindjeri pelican dance

Making damper

Young Environmental LeadersTerm 1

Making bliss balls with dates

Learning about bush tucker Collecting water from plant leaves

Building shelters - team work and problem-solving required! Tasting bush tucker in Coorong National Park

With date farmers Dave and Anita Reilly Exploring Long Point in Coorong National Park

Young Environmental LeadersTerm 2: Sustainable farming and healthy soils/Connecting with nature, parks and places• Held at Ngeringa Winery, Mount Barker, a garlic farm and Mypolonga

Primary School and Hart Lagoon, Waikerie.• Students learnt about the importance of soils, sustainable farming practices,

growing garlic, biodynamics, vineyards, composting, worm gardens, waterbirds, animal scats and tracks and environmental monitoring.

• Activities included soil texture and pH tests, tree planting, building a compost heap, identifying animal scats, making clay artworks, bushwalking, birdwatching, rubbish collection and cultivating gratitude for nature.

Student feedbackI learnt how to test toil types. Stinging nettles were helpful at this farm because they have deep tap roots.I am going to tell my friends and family about the wetland and how it is so amazing.The ‘what scat is that?’ activity was great fun and very interesting.

Teacher feedbackLoved being in such an authentic learning environment and loved being with such passionate people.A disengaged boy who HATES physical activity, not only participated and was engaged but he didn’t whine at all about the walking!

Learning about the importance of healthy soils

Identifying various animal scats

Birdwatching at Hart LagoonExploring the vineyard at Ngeringa Winery

Learning about soils


Organic garlic keeps the vampires away!

Creating nature artworks Soil pH testing

It turns out kale is delicious! Composting is an art

A nature gratitude circle - sharing what we’re thankful for Breaking the ice by building nature words

Young Environmental LeadersTerm 3: Pest plants and animals• Held at Kinchina Conservation Park (near Murray Bridge) and Frahns Farm

(near Monarto).• Students learnt about local threatened birds and the impacts of weeds,

introduced animals and overabundant native species.• Activities included a weed walk, sorting seeds by how they spread, using

GPS units to survey weeds and rabbit warrens, trying kangaroo sausages and recipes made from weeds, spraying bridal creeper, checking nest boxes, bird banding and assessing grazing pressure.

Student feedbackMy favourite part was helping the environment by spraying the bridal creeper, also trying the couscous with the weed sauce!I learnt that you can use some fungus to kill weeds. I did not know that kangaroos were so destructive and sometimes considered pests.

Teacher feedbackMy student’s knowledge has increased through identifying weeds and control methods – in particular the use of biocontrols like spore water.My favourite part about today was being hands-on! GPS, spraying, etc.

Bird banding at Frahns Farm Checking nest boxes for birds Tasting tea made from stinging nettles

Barmera Environmental ExpoRather than hosting a separate YEL forum during the busiest month of the year, the Upper Murray NRM Education team invited all YEL schools to attend the Barmera Primary School Environment Expo. Students attended and participated in workshops presented by Barmera PS students while some YEL schools including Renmark North PS and Kingston-on-Murray PS presented their own hands-on environmental workshops on the day.

Students presenting their workshop

Giving a bird a drink before release


Learning about how weeds spread

Making bee hotels at Barmera Expo Inspecting bridal creeper

Finding out about the damage kangaroos can do to native plants Spraying invasive bridal creeper

Using single use plastics to create art at Barmera Environmental Expo Checking out a bird next at Frahns Farm

Young Environmental LeadersTerm 4: Enough water for everyone• Held at Mannum, Goolwa barrage and Lock 5/Bert Dix Park.• Students learnt about how much water is available for humans and wildlife,

the importance of the river to Aboriginal people, frogs, wetlands, regulators (weirs, locks and barrages), environmental watering, fishways, seals, how much water we use around our homes and the River Murray Youth Council.

• Activities included building a river and wetland system out of plasticine, playing water sharing games, making bird and insect watering stations, competing in a scavenger hunt, drawing past, present and future versions of the river system, inspecting the lock and barrage and watching seals play.

Student feedbackI think the best part of today was learning about how the locks, regulators and weirs work because now I can educate our school about it.I didn’t know how fish got to the other side of the lock.You can only use a bit of the Earth’s fresh water and that wetlands are not always wet.

Teacher feedbackThe (NRM Ed) team make [YEL] amazing. The knowledge and history was brilliant.Thanks again for another great suite of expos and events. The speakers are great and relate well to the students.

Inspecting Lock 5

Building a model of the river system out of plasticine

Learning about the Goolwa barragesGetting up close to native frogs

Drawing how the river used to be


Making bird and insect watering stations

A beautiful bird bath Creating models of the river

Bryce from SA Water teaching us about the barrages Watching the seals on the Goolwa Barrage

Having fun on the Goolwa barrage Meeting native frogs

Young Environmental LeadersSharing their learningEach term, the Young Environmental Leaders are encouraged to share what they have learnt with their peers, school and wider community. They receive badges for the work they do:Take actionThe Action badge is all about encouraging students to DO something - starting a recycling program, organising a planting day, building a veggie garden.

Kids teaching kidsStudents plan and run a hands-on workshop for younger students at school to earn their Kids teaching kids badge.

PresentationStudents develop and deliver a presentation for their class, school assembly or staff meeting to share their knowledge and skills.

News spreaderStudents write a captivating article about the YEL forum for their school newsletter or local newspaper.

An example of this year’s sharing:• After Term 1, Waikerie Primary School presented a lesson to 38 other

students on dates and date palms which included a sensory activity and getting kids to write about dates. They also planted date seeds in their school nursery with two junior primary classes.

• After visiting Coorong National Park, Springton Primary School taught the Ngarrindjeri pelican dance to 40 primary school students and performed at their Reconciliation Week assembly.

• Goolwa Primary School students planted a veggie garden and made a worm farm and have been giving away their produce.

River Murray Youth CouncilUpper and Lower Murray campNineteen members from both the Upper and Lower Murray RMYC groups attended a two day camp at Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary in the April school holidays to learn about the local environment and develop leadership skills. The students looked at mallee ecology, spotlighted at night for threatened animals and collected scats to figure out what animals were around.We covered some of the many facets to becoming a great leader through hands-on activities. Members used blindfolds and puzzle pieces to develop communication and teamwork skills, untangled themselves and knots for problem solving, and painted watercolour postcards to inspire their families. The students also ‘gave back’ to Yookamurra by completing a waste audit and presenting to the staff about how their waste could be managed more sustainably.Visiting Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park on day two was a unique opportunity for the group. Sam from the Mannum Aboriginal Community Association shared stories of traditional hunting, gathering, trading and more. Sam completed the tour with a powerful message to the RMYC that we are all a part of this land and it’s up to all of us to work together to look after it.

Quotes from RMYC membersI liked the bird walk. We saw bilby, bird, bettong and possum prints.I learnt how hard it is to recycle stuff in remote areas. My favourite part was the night walk because we got to see the nocturnal animals in their natural habitat.I liked getting to know everyone, their names and why they are here. I learnt about different careers in the environment.

RMYC members using their problem-solving skills to untangle themselves

Exploring Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary

Getting arty

RMYC values• Teamwork• Respect• Responsibility(as chosen by RMYC members)

The RMYC camp was supported by a grant from:

River Murray Youth CouncilUpper and Lower Murray camp

What scat is that?

Visiting Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park The things you find!

Upper and Lower Murray RMYC members came together for the camp at Yookamurra Working on our communication skills

Conducting a waste audit Looking for scats

River Murray Youth CouncilUpper Murray and Lower Murray• Forums were held during the term and school holidays, with an emphasis on

taking action to look after the environment.• Forums were held at Riverglades Wetland (Murray Bridge), Kinchina

Conservation Park, Thieles sandbar (Loxton), Swanport Reserve (Murray Bridge), Lake Bonney (Barmera) and Frahns Farm (Monarto).

• Members learnt about managing national parks, introduced species, birds, microplastics, fruit fly, waste, weed control methods, turtles, revegetation practices, overnight bushwalking skills, frogs and habitat monitoring.

• Activities included installing checking nest boxes, rubbish collection, controlling and removing prickly pear, monitoring bats, catching carp, removing tree guards, surveying microplastics, watering 5000 newly planted trees and helping with community events.

• We also made time for fun with bushwalking, fishing, releasing baby turtles and watching the 2040 documentary.

Quotes from RMYC membersI learnt how trees are planted strategically e.g. grass: in patches, trees: spread out.I loved the bushwalk - it was fun and the views were amazing. The best thing about the day was picking up the rubbish because I helped the environment.

Controlling invasive prickly pear

Visiting Riverglades Wetlands where we released baby turtles

Collecting data about the nest boxes at Frahns FarmCompleting a microplastics survey sample from Lake Bonney

Removing tree guards at Kinchina CP

River Murray Youth CouncilUpper Murray and Lower Murray

Microplastics survey

Picking up rubbish Bushwalking fun

A huge amount of rubbish collected from Kinchina! Collecting data for a microplastics survey

Looking for bats in the Riverland Inspecting the ruins at Kinchina Conservation Park

River Murray Youth CouncilUpper Murray and Lower Murray

Got one!

Removing prickly pear

Learning about invasive weed species, particularly prickly pear

Fishing for carp at Thieles Sandbar

Hello Fleurieu! Youth FestivalThe River Murray Youth Council was invited to host a stall at the Hello Fleurieu! Youth Festival at Currency Creek. The festival encourages young people to share their knowledge and skills with other young people and so we encouraged our RMYC members to pick a topic and design activities.The Lower Murray RMYC members decided to focus on waste and teach others how to reduce their impact.They showed off their amazing art skills with posters and displays and were not shy in chatting to the event’s many attendees and the local radio station about waste reduction techniques.They also ran some fantastic engagement activities including:• how to make a waste-free lunchbox• ‘what bin does it go in?’ game• ‘how long does rubbish take to break down?’ game• how to make beeswax wraps• how to swap single-use items for more sustainable choices• microplastics surveying.

Teacher professional development sessionsThe professional development sessions are a chance for local teachers to learn about natural resources and environmental issues, develop their skills, network with other educators and find out more about what the NRM Education team offers.

Explore the CoorongIn March, 45 teachers from the Lower Murray, Riverland, South East and Adelaide travelled to Parnka Point, Coorong National Park. Young Ngarrindjeri leaders Rita and Michael Lindsay performed the Welcome to Country, spoke about their connection to Country and work on the Storm Boy movie, and performed four dances. Every single teacher got involved in performing the nori (pelican) dance.

Park Ranger Tim Hartman Snr spoke about the importance of the Coorong, flora and fauna, threats, park management and restoration projects, and fielded questions from the teachers. We then hit the water with the crew from Canoe the Coorong. After kayaking over to the peninsula, Tim Snr and Tim Jr led bush food walks through the dunes to where the Canoe the Coorong crew had cooked up our delicious lunch of mulloway burgers. Teachers had free time to wander along the beach or spend more time kayaking.

The NRM Education team launched a new Coorong National Park Teacher Resource Pack. This pack includes info about the biodiversity and hydrology of the park, its history and current management.

Microplastics surveyingA PD session was hosted in partnership with AUSMAP to educate teachers and interested community members on the correct technique to monitor microplastics near waterways.

Attendees of the training session were accredited to run their own community monitoring sessions to add to the only scientifically valid microplastics database.

Well done everyone involved in organising such a great event, the presentations were excellent, including set-up and literature available.Despite living in relatively close proximity to Parnka, even as a local I don’t often get the opportunity to participate in kayaking across the Coorong, and crossing the dunes via the cocklers’ track to the ocean that beckons beyond. As usual this day out didn’t disappoint, in fact with the bonus of Rita and Michael’s Welcome to Country - this was a truly special experience, with the back drop of the Coorong, just magic!I’ll never forget witnessing this! The cultural aspects and bush tucker information delivered by locals Tim Hartman Snr and Tim Hartman Jr was excellent also, genuine and authentic connection to their heritage, the Coorong region and future hopes for this community and area. Of course, being treated to sample some bush tucker and mulloway with our lunch topped off a great day!

- Kirsty Bagshaw (teacher)

Going green: teach environmental educationIn November, 20 teachers from nine schools attended a professional development session that offered an overview of the NRM Education program for 2020. The team and special guest speakers ran concurrent sessions designed to inspire teachers to expand and include environmental topics and activities in their teaching. The concurrent sessions included:• NRM and STEM: How to use NRM Education resources in STEM

(presented by Jeany Winter, science teacher at Waikerie PS)• Biological science ideas to apply in the classroom (presented by

Zack Plaquet, science teacher at Berri PS)• Loan kits and integrating NRM

Education with the curriculum (presented by Angela Breeding, NRM Education Officer)

• Working with high schools (presented by Cindy Kakoschke NRM Education Officer)

• Young Environmental Leaders program (presented by Dani Dutschke NRM Education Officer)

• Cultural education sessions (presented by Chris Koolmatrie, Aboriginal Partnerships)

Teachers also participated in hands-on activities, making bee BnBs and beeswax wraps and doing traditional weaving with sedge.

Teacher professional development sessionsBee Pee DeeTwenty teachers from seven Riverland schools learnt about the importance of bees. Guest speaker Mark DeCaux (aka The Bush Bee Man) shared his extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for honey bees.Danielle spoke about the native bee species, how important they are and how we can provide habitat for these solitary creatures.Cindy shared insights and considerations for having honey bees in a school environment and what resources are available for teachers.To end the night, participants made beeswax wraps or native bee BnBs to take home or back to school.

Something I’ll try back at school:Talking about the importance of bees and making beeswax wraps.Talk about the hexagons honey bees use to create their hives.Planting plants for bees.

Education sessionsHands-on interactive classroom sessions continued to be wildly popular in 2019. More than 70 sessions were delivered in class or out in the field for more than 2300 students. Topics included frogs, macroinvertebrates, the River Murray, turtles, carpet pythons, threatened species, tracks, scats and traces, food webs, wetlands, water quality, fish, native plants, salinity, connecting with nature, food miles, sustainable farming, birds and waste.These sessions support units of work that the class is working on, such as animal adaptations or environmental issues. Often they are an introductory lesson, designed to ignite curiosity and inspire the students to become engaged in the topic. The sessions are often supported by NRM Education’s many loan kits, which feature models, games and other resources.

Achievements and eventsBarmera Environmental ExpoThe Expo, now in its 12th year is an amazing ‘Kids Teaching Kids’ event organised by Barmera Primary School. It takes place over two days and all primary schools in the Riverland are invited to attend and participate in workshops or deliver a workshop teaching their peers about an environmental topic.Cindy spoke to the group of more than 200 students about the effect of microplastics on our environment and some small steps we can all take to reduce plastic use and waste. The results from the Lake Bonney survey were presented to the group. Danielle and Cindy assisted the large group of students to search for plastic waste in sand trays and add their findings to the Micro Murray cod and Plastic Percy pelican mascots that will be used to promote microplastic surveys and plastic waste reduction.The team also delivered two sessions for smaller groups about native bees, with students building their own bee BnBs.

Coorong National Park teacher resource kitA resource pack with activities and information about the biodiversity and hydrology of the park. Teachers can also discover it’s history and current management.

New resource

Achievements and eventsKaroonda Farm FairAs part of the Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin display, the NRM Education team ran ‘what scat is that?’ and ‘match the track’ activities, with participants identifying the tracks and scats of native and introduced animals.

Riverland Field DaysNRM Education presented a display on microplastics to share the results from a recent survey completed by RMYC students at Lake Bonney. More than 70 community members participated in their own mini microplastics survey and added plastic waste to our plastic mascot Plastic Percy. Participants won reusable bamboo straws, to encourage them to reduce their reliance on single use plastics.

Laratinga Wetlands Bird FairThe NRM Education and Citizen Science teams hosted a stand at the Laratinga Bird Fair, organised by Mount Barker Council. Angela ran activities for children including making bird baths and a colouring in competition.

Park of the Month Family DayEach month a different South Australian national park is selected as the ‘Park of the Month’ with a range of activities to attract new visitors. NRM Education staff supported the Murray River National Park Family Day at Katarapko in September by providing waterbugs, nature activities and giveaways. We also organised yoga instructors to provide family yoga sessions.

Looking for waterbugs at the Park of the Month Family Day

Work experienceNatural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin provides work experience placements for students who are considering careers in natural resource management.

Several students completed their work experience with us in 2019.

A work experience student helping with wetland monitoring

Achievements and eventsChildren’s UniversityNatural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin continues to be a ‘learning destination’ for the Children’s University. Workshops and field days activities were advertised as Children’s University events, with members attending and getting their passports stamped.

Frog kitTo increase students’ understanding of our local frog species, local artist Toni Schwarz created 10 fabulous models. The frog loan kits also include identification sheets and fun facts about each species.

New resourceChildren’s University members take part in a fungi foray

Art and Science; MacroinvertebratesAs part of National Science Week and the South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival, we partnered with Riverland artists Liz Frankel and Toni Schwarz, Country Arts SA and science research artist Charles Tambiah to create a unique event for students to discover macroinvertebrates. The 91 students and community members studied macros up close using microscopes and magnifiers and learnt about the different kinds of bugs. Charles Tambiah talked to students about macro photography and how to take good photos using iPads and phones. NRM Education staff spoke to students about waterbugs, their features and cool facts. Students were then invited to make their own waterbugs from recycled materials, with artists Toni Schwarz and Liz Frankel on-hand to support and advise.

Achievements and events

New resourceLifecycles kitPerfect for younger years, this kit contains real frog lifecycle samples (set in resin), large magnet lifecycles, colouring sheets, puppets and sensory bottles and activities.

A precious plant for a precious mumThis beautiful initiative, delivered in partnership with the Ecology team, involved students learning about local threatened plants. 262 students investigated why species are under threat and ways we can conserve them. Each student received a Monarto mintbush or silver daisy-bush to give to someone special for Mother’s Day.

Microplastics surveyingMicroplastics (plastics smaller than 5 mm) are a big issue and have become a focus in the media. In May we took part in training run by AUSMAP (Australian Microplastics Assessment Project) and became certified in conducting microplastics surveys.Both River Murray Youth Council groups then took part in microplastic surveys at Swanport Reserve, Murray Bridge and Lake Bonney, Barmera. It has been fascinating to compare the results of the upper and lower parts of the river system. We’re pleased to say that we didn’t find many microplastics, although general rubbish remains a problem in these areas.The Lower Murray RMYC then shared their knowledge and skills at the Hello Fleurieu! Youth Festival, while Cindy and Danielle educated students at the Barmera Environmental Expo and Riverland Field Days. We are working with Goolwa Primary School to survey Goolwa Beach next year and Riverland schools will be invited to help with future Lake Bonney surveys.

Achievements and events

Carpet python sessionsIn Ttrm one, we collaborated with Mid Murray Landcare to deliver sessions educating students and teachers (and the wider community) about Murray-Darling carpet pythons. 335 students from four schools learnt about the local python species, the importance of preserving habitat and how to record sightings. Students and teachers were able to get up close to a python named Bill.

Calendar artwork competition2020 is the UN’s International Year of Plant Health. To celebrate we ran a competition for students to submit artwork of native plants to feature in a calendar. 262 creative students eagerly sent in their entries, making it very difficult to select the winners! The winning entries received printed copies the calendar to share with family and friends.The 2020 calendar is available for download from our website.

Berri Rodeo Grounds community consultationAs part of the Community Engagement branch, the NRM Education team are often invited to assist with community consultation activities. In September, National Parks staff conducted a clean-up of the Rodeo Grounds near Berri and community members were invited along to help. Cindy attended to provide a casual consultation session to find out what the community members would like to see happen in the area which has recently become part of the Murray River National Park. After chatting to the participants over a snag and bread, ideas and suggestions were documented for when development of the area goes ahead.

Cover image by Lila, Loxton Lutheran School Image by Jorja, Mypolonga Primary School

Image by Lachlan, Renmark High School Image by Kheng Yin, Mount Barker Waldorf School

Achievements and eventsFungi fun in the forestWe partnered with Mount Barker Library to help families explore the fascinating world of fungi at Kuitpo Forest. Armed with ID charts, the 85 participants found all sorts of cool, colourful fungi and learnt about what makes them so special. Children then made their own fungi models out of clay.

OSHC sessionsWe visited several out of school hours care (OSHC) programs, running workshops about frogs, macroinvertebrates, tracks, scats and bones, and the River Murray. One OSHC group even went geocaching and bushwalking at Kinchina Conservation Park with Dani. OSHC sites reported that many of these days booked out, with many children eager to take part in the fun hands-on activities.

Other eventsNRM Education staff also attended and ran workshops and activities at the following events:• Adelaide Hills Careers Expo• Unity College Careers Expo• Natural Resources South East Salt Creek

schools event• Riverland Family Daycare Mud Day • Waterbugs in the Park• MEGA Microbat, Mozzie and Movie Event.

Best dressed competition at the MEGA Microbat, Mozzie and Movie Event

Case studiesRamco Primary SchoolRamco Primary School’s Ramco Environment Group (REG) students have had a very busy year focusing on waste and recycling. Team members launched their new recycling station at school which they created with the help of a Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant. The station provides excellent options for recycling including paper and hard/soft plastics.REG students are also a valuable part of the NRM Education Young Environmental Leaders (YEL) Program and have achieved a great deal throughout the year sharing their learnings back at school. They have written newsletter articles, presented to groups at the school, delivered hands on workshops to their peers and younger students and have planted trees and shrubs to improve the school gardens.

Barmera YEL win Landcare AwardBarmera Primary School’s Young Environmental Leaders won the Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award at the 2019 South Australian Landcare Awards. The YEL students plan and carry out a wide range of environmental activities both within the school and the wider community. They are keen environmentalists who strive to motivate others to live more sustainably and care for the natural surroundings. They are enthusiastic learners themselves in discovering new and different ways of spreading their message of caring for the land. They not only speak and show but get right into the hands-on experiences of creating and maintaining their environment. The group will represent South Australia at the 2020 National Landcare Awards in Sydney.

Case studiesMalleefowl expert engages studentsAfter borrowing our threatened species kit, Loxton Lutheran School teacher Karl Klose was interested for his class to learn more about malleefowl.NRM Education staff facilitated contact between Karl and local malleefowl enthusiast Lew Westbrook, who visited the school and delighted the children with his presentation.

Murray-Darling Basin field tripsYear seven students from Stirling East Primary School spent most of this year studying the Murray-Darling Basin and researching the issues it is facing. Small groups of students visited different parts of the River Murray and NRM Education staff assisted with a visit to Murray Bridge.Dani accompanied four students on a visit to Swanport and Rocky Gully Wetlands, helping with water quality tests and macroinvertebrate identification. Murray-Darling Basin Authority officer Monique White also assisted to answer questions about the management of the basin.The students’ projects featured in an ABC News article.

“I just wanted to say a big thank you for recommending Lew Westbrook. His knowledge totally engaged the Year 2s of Loxton Lutheran and made for a much richer unit on living things.” - Karl Klose

Cambrai Primary SchoolEarly in 2019, teacher Michele Holloway contacted NRM Education to assist in developing a term-long program focussing on learning about the River Murray. Each week students covered a different topic such as water resources, fish, frogs, macroinvertebrates, Indigenous culture. Students started the term with an excursion to Riverglades and Rocky Gully Wetlands, lead by NRM Education staff. The aim of the excursion was to have the students test and compare the health of each wetland.Throughout the term the school used the NRM Education loan kits and resources to inspire activities and highlight curriculum links for each topic. The final session was an excursion at Paiwalla Wetland.Students took part in fish monitoring and bird identification with local experts as well as water quality monitoring and macroinvertebrate identification.

What do teachers think about NRM Education?Teachers are asked to evaluate each individual program or session, enabling the NRM Education team to continually improve the program so that it best meets the needs of schools.

I attended the Explore the Coorong teacher PD earlier this year and found it to be the best PD that I have done in years! It was so incredibly valuable on a personal level and as an Outdoor Educator, it has enriched my teaching in the areas of Indigenous cultural knowledge, understanding of conservation works in the Coorong and networking opportunities.

My students are very motivated and have great ideas which they didn’t have before they attended YEL.

The Coorong PD was an amazing opportunity to connect with NRM members and local Ngarrindjeri peoples. We learnt so much critical information both environmental and cultural and we look forward to sharing this knowledge with our students and community.

There have been positive impacts for my class because your session has come so closely linked to our ‘Wetlands Study’. This has been reflected in their level of ongoing interest in the topic and thoughtful questions of concern about what might happen to our local frogs if water does not stay clean.

I loved seeing how art and science intersect through the use of accurate and close-up photography.

I’ve loved the variety of topics at YEL this year. Students’ interest has grown in the environment and they are passing on their knowledge in general conversation.

The students were engaged during the entire session and showed some really creative ideas with their ‘recycled’ macros. Charles Tambiah was really interesting to listen to and had an approachable manner when interacting with the students.

Our students really enjoyed the session with Danielle, especially taking home their precious plant to mum. Feedback from the mums was also positive and some remarked on how carefully their child handed over the plant to them on Mother’s Day.

I wanted to thank you for running such interesting, innovative and engaging sessions across 2019. I sincerely hope there is continued funding for these great opportunities for both students and their teachers in 2020. I have been able to integrate much of the learning from YEL into some of my science lessons this year.

Students were able to see how creativity can be achieved through careful thinking, planning and persistence.

This professional presentation by Cindy helped the students gain valuable knowledge on frogs and assisted them to write a precise information text on frogs.

Plants given to students to give as Mother’s Day gifts - very excited about this. Much feedback from parents about how thoughtful it was and what a lovely gift, including the printed wrapping paper and informative card. A great idea. Would definitely recommend and participate again. It fitted into our science program so well.

Thanks to our supporters• Helen Crisp and staff at Yookamurra Wildlife

Sanctuary, Australian Wildlife Conservancy• Bryce Buchanan and Brad Everett,

SA Water• Brett Kennedy, Riverland Fruit Fly Coordinator,

PIRSA• Dave and Anita Reilly, Gurra Downs• Adrian Sherriff, Animals Anonymous• Paul Cooper, garlic farmer• Alan Shepherd, composting and community

garden expert• David Hughes, Mypolonga Primary School• Janet Klein and Tammy Bernhard,

Ngeringa Winery• Karen Bishop, Riverland West Landcare• Helga Kieskamp, Berri Barmera Landcare• Loxton Landcare staff• Waikerie Primary School’s Youth Environment

Team• Ben Simon, Jacqui Wilson and Regina Durbridge,

Goolwa-Wellington Local Action Planning Association

• David Paton, Fiona Paton and volunteers from BioR

• Mannum Aboriginal Community Association Inc • Aimee Linke, Mid Murray Landcare• Michelle Clothier, Mel Treloar and Phil Roberts,

Lower Murray RMYC mentors• Myles Fauser, Renmark Paringa Landcare• Monique White, Murray–Darling

Basin Authority

• Tim Hartman Snr, Tim Hartman Jr, Matt Hartman, Angus Droogan-Turniski, Candice Love and Georgina Trevorrow, Coorong National Park rangers

• Rita and Michael Lindsay• Jeany Winter, Waikerie Primary School• Zack Plaquet, Berri Primary School• Jo Bevan and Natalie Coote, Berri Primary School• Glenys Matthews, Barmera Primary School• Yatco Wetland Landcare Group• Calperum Station staff• Natasha Dawson, Environmental Education

Coordinator, Natural Resources South East• Brenton Carle, Canoe the Coorong• Charles Tambiah, Australian National University• Liz Frankel, artist• Toni Schwarz, artist• Rebecca Kennedy, Country Arts SA• Chaffey Theatre Renmark staff• Steve Scown, Wetland Habitats Trust• Mark and Tricia DeCaux, the Bush Bee Company• Monique Percy, Mount Barker Library• Claudia Santori, University of Sydney• John Freebairn, Investigator College

Natural Resources SAMDB staff:• Sylvia Clarke, Citizen Science Senior

Project Officer • Kerri Waldhuter, Community

Engagement Officer• Sophie Bass, District Officer

Our program would not succeed without the help from Natural Resources SAMDB staff, Landcare groups, university experts and volunteers. We would like to extend a massive thank you to these people:

• Joel Horn, District Officer• Chris Koolmatrie, Aboriginal Project Officer• Hannah Spronk, District Manger Riverland• Jodie Woof, Senior District Officer• Miranda Leckie, Project Officer

Capacity Building• Phil McNamara, NRM Communities

Senior Project Officer• Sam Walters, Pike Floodplain Ecologist• Kate Mason, Wetlands

Management Officer• Tony Randall, Team Leader

Sustainable Agriculture• Bec Gould, District Officer• Courtney Monk, Wetland Project Officer• Sam Hardy, Wetland Project Officer• Richard Walsh, Floodplain Projects Officer• Glenn Chisholm, Ranger• Michael Boon, Indigenous Officer• Communications Team staff• Jeremy Nelson, Land and Water Management

Planning Officer• Terri Minge, Infrastructure Operations Officer• Tony Stevens, Ranger• Ali Stokes, Senior Project Officer• Bec Stevens, Project Officer Media and

Communications• Natural Resources SAMDB Administration team• Natural Resources SAMDB Communications team

NRM EducationInspiring and empowering young people to connect with and value our environment.

This program is funded by the SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board and the NRM levies, enabling landholders and community to play an active role in our region’s future.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/© Crown in right of the State of South Australia, Department for Environment and Water. Security Classification PUBLIC –I1-A1

Contact details

Upper MurrayCindy KakoschkeNRM Education OfficerNatural Resources Centre2 Wade StreetBerri SA 5343Phone 08 8580 1800Email [email protected]

Lower MurrayDanielle DutschkeEducation OfficerNatural Resources Centre110A Mannum RoadMurray Bridge SA 5253Phone 08 8532 9100Email [email protected]

Website: www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/samurraydarlingbasin

Team LeaderJem TesorieroTeam Leader, NRM CommunitiesNatural Resources Centre110A Mannum RoadMurray Bridge SA 5253Phone 08 8532 9100Email [email protected]

2019 nrm education achievements report · • held at ngeringa winery, mount barker, a garlic farm...

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