With Term 1 behind us, many school inductions complete, kits received and testing sites set up – schools are exploring River Detectives and doing some great things we’d love to share!
But first, if you are keen to opt in to Pesticide Watch as another citizen-science tool in your toolkit you have one more week to do so. See the Billabong Banter post on May 6 for more information Pesticide Watch is here – opt in now (open for three weeks) | River Detectives
Email project coordinator Brady Hamilton to express your interest brady.hamilton@deakin.edu.au
Sharing the good news:
- Several River Detectives schools from around the state are nominated for ResourceSmart Schools awards. We’ll be at the MCG on June 4 with a River Detectives stall so look forward to seeing how they go!
- We are hearing of schools who have successfully applied for Science Week grants to supplement their involvement in the River Detectives program and buy new equipment – well done. Junior Landcare and Biodiversity grants are now open until 3pm June 14 and are another opportunity to seek funds.
- Daylesford Dharma School recently held an event at their test site in the Cornish Hill Reserve. One of the rotational activities was held ‘Kids Teaching Kids’ style with students imparting their knowledge of waterbugs with students of other schools. They did a great job!
- Year 6 students at Chewton PS have decided to advocate for their local Forest Creek after noticing the amount of dog poo beside the walking track. After learning about the impacts of phosphorus they have designed badges, made community awareness posters and are now fundraising for compostable dog poo bags. Student advocacy in action!
- The North Central CMA have just concluded an innovative experiment – sending two Gen Zers down Bendigo Creek in kayaks for five days and filming their honest reactions to the good, bad and interesting aspects of this often-misunderstood waterway ‘Beau Miles’ style. If your students enjoy the video Kayaking the sickest urban river in Australia (youtube.com), they’ll love these five bite-sized youtube videos of Kai and Jessie’s journey of discovery – about waterways, about the adventures nature offers and about disconnecting from technology and what you can learn about yourself. Check out the videos here Northcentralcma – YouTube (we’ll also be loading them onto the River Detectives website soon) and look out for the appearance of River Detectives schools Epsom PS on Day 1 and St Kilian’s PS Bendigo on Day 2.
Keep up the great work, do what you can with the program, ask for our help and don’t forget to let us know if you are doing anything interesting at your school: riverdetectives@nccma.vic.gov.au
