Casey and Eddison are a part of the new generation of sustainability warriors.
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The Wendouree Children’s Centre kids are enjoying getting their hands dirty in the garden and classroom.
They are learning to save energy, be water wise, how to compost and grow their own food as part of the Get Grubby program.
Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group is providing early childhood education centres with free access to the sustainability program that features popular characters Dirt Girl, Scrap Boy and Costa the Garden Gnome.
Wendouree Children’s Centre early childhood educator Beth Foyster said the kids’ enthusiasm for the learning projects was encouraging for the future.
“It’s about looking after the environment and giving them the ability to be active in their own learning,” she said.
The kids have been germinating and planting seeds, making compost and washing powder, saving food scraps for animals and creating recycled paper.
The kids are asking questions they may not have thought of before and are taking the messages home to their parents.
- Rennay Greenwood, Wendouree Early Learning Centre
Early childhood educator Rennay Greenwood said staff were working to embed sustainable practices throughout the centre.
“We are looking forward to putting a blender in each room so left over fruit can be blended into smoothies in the afternoon. We are cutting our power consumption by turning off lights and the kids are bringing their own drink bottles, which means we are not washing dishes all the time,” she said.
“The kids are asking questions they may not have thought of before and are taking the messages home to their parents.”
More than 16 early learning centres and kindergartens in the Ballarat region are signed up to the Get Grubby sustainability education program.
Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group chief executive La Vergne Lehmann said the program provides a great lead into the ResourceSmart Schools program, which runs in more than 80 schools in the region.
Early learning centres interested in Get Grubby can email wesley.death@gcwwrrg.vic.gov.au and ResourceSmart Schools at paul.lehmann@gcwwrrg.vic.gov.au.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
