Earth Ed is one of 6 Science Specialised Science and Maths Education Centres in Victoria, all of which provide Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) programs to Victorian school students, from foundation through to VCE. Programs are free of charge to government school students, including travel.

Earth Ed’s vision is to empower STEM communities, including students, teachers and the wider school and local community, aiming to encourage a sense of curiosity and active participation by working with students and their teachers with the goal of teaching and learning science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Earth Ed Centre has been designed with sustainability at the forefront of its construction and for many of the programs offered, sustainability and living within our Earth’s resources are key features in the lessons.

This month, Earth Ed ran a Climate Change Education Forum for 15 primary schools in the Ballarat district. The event aimed to foster and provide:

• intergenerational conversations,
• learning and future-focused activities to build confidence and understanding of climate change and action, and
• a space for student voice and skill development through activities facilitating connections between students, industry, social enterprises, local government and teachers.

All up, 60 students registered for the 2 day event. To ensure the forum is ‘walking the talk’, Earth Ed arranged for 60 native trees to be planted with Fifteen Trees in the local community.

One tree planted for every student who attended the forum.

Fittingly, the trees were planted by fellow primary students from Napoleon Primary School at along Sykes Creek at Scotsmans Lead, VIC with the help of the Napoleon Enfield Landcare Group (NELG).

The newly planted trees will:

• create shade along the river,
• provide shelter for aquatic life such as fish and even  platypus,
• give protection from strong winds,
• protect the creek bed from the destruction of floods and
• provide habitat for the local wildlife such as echidnas, wallabies, possums and many species of birds and associated  invertebrate life such as dragonflies, bees and ants.

The Sykes Creek and Yarrowee River flows about 15 kms south of Ballarat, from there it flows down to Inverleigh, where it joins the Barwon Rover and flows out at Barwon Heads, beyond Geelong. It is the main river in the north of the Leigh catchment and is vital to connecting the landscape. The aborginal name is Yaramlok. Some of the species of trees, shrubs and grasses planted with Napoleons PS include; Slender Tussock Grass, Austral Storks Bill, Blue silky grass, Woolly tea tree, Gold dust wattle and Chocolate lily.

We are most grateful to Earth Ed for your sponsorship of this restoration work. Together we are recreating a healthy landscape for wildlife and people.

Jenny Ryle | President | Napoleon Enfield Landcare Group

Wishing the students at Earth Ed’s Climate Change Forum a fabulous 2 day event that gives them the tools necessary to help protect and preserve this beautiful planet of ours.

If you would like to know more about sponsoring community tree planting projects and maybe even run a Fundraiser for the Planet at your school please contact Colleen at <[email protected]>.

Writer: Colleen B. Filippa

With a background in Environmental Science, Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions (including 3 years at Earth Ed), Colleen left the classroom to start her company. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise assisting individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting community groups such as Landcare, schools and environmental networks.