Very sad to have to postpone the day tomorrow due to the Severe Weather Alert for damaging winds. It is predicted to be windier than today and the conditions are forecast to be unpleasantly cold and dangerous around trees. So we will regroup to organise another day. As always thank you to the MPS staff for their work organising outdoor activities. We only wish that it was also forecast to rain a lot; that would make a postponement something to celebrate!
World Environment Day is the United Nations Environment Program’s (UNEP) most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Since it began in 1974, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries. Stage 2 and Stage 3 students from Wolumla PS, Tathra PS, Eden PS, Towamba PS, Bega Valley PS and Wyndham PS got together to learn about video production and animation and have produced a positive video message for World Environment Day 2019. The theme is #BeatAirPollution and these students have put their creative skills and enthusiasm into this positive World Environment Day message!
A wonderful chat between Dr Ceridwen Fraser, Associate Professor at University of Otago, and Ian Campbell from About Regional. Dr Fraser talks about her experiences embarking on a career in science and touches on issues affecting women in science. A small crew of students from Bega High School were there with others joining the webinar online.
We will report an update on the genomic analysis of bull kelp that we sent to Dr Fraser when those results become known!
Thanks to Inspiring Australia for supporting this initiative!
Looking for something to do with the family this school holiday/Easter break? Something that will keep the kids and you occupied for a ……LIFETIME!
Then go ahead and download a copy of the Bournda EEC/Atlas of Life multi-touch book, “Exploring and Mapping our Living World – with the Atlas of Life and NatureMapr”. Created by Bournda EEC teacher Julie Donne, this wonderful teaching resource will be introduce you to the wonderful world of citizen science, where you can play an important role in mapping the biodiversity of our local region. Has that spider ever been sighted before? Is that bird out of its normal range? Has anyone sighted that butterfly at this time of the year? So many great scientific questions that could be answered through the sightings that you make in your backyard, local national park, on your farm….ANYWHERE!
Produced in partnership with the Sapphire Coast Regional Science Hub and Sustainability Education Network and the Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness, the book features stunning images of local biodiversity by local naturalists. There are step-by-step instructions on how to use the NatureMapr app to record your sightings. Eventually the data you record becomes part of the CSIRO’s Atlas of Living Australia biodiversity database which has nearly 85 MILLION occurrence records.
EDEN PS PROGRAM AT BOURNDA
Monday 25th March
There could be a bit of rain around but we are hoping it will hold off till this afternoon. If students have a raincoat or umbrella that will help. It will be quite warm so don’t forget the hat, sunscreen and water bottle!
See you at Bournda!
Planning a best practice project and introducing “Take Me Outside”
Tuesday 19 February 2019– Bournda Environmental Education Centre, Sapphire Coast
This workshop is essential for anyone working on sustainability education projects or engaging with the community on environmental issues.
Learn the steps to planning a best practice Sustainability Education and Engagement project and discover how the new nature connection program ‘Take Me Outside’ can help your school, community group or government organisation.
Limited spaces are available- so book your place now at https://www.aaeensw.org.au/events/free-sustainability-education-workshop-sapphire-coast
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Whether you are from local or state government, a school, non-government organisation, community group or business, this workshop is an essential part of your professional development for 2019.
These workshops are part of the ‘Best Practice Sustainability Education and Engagement for NSW’ project supported by the NSW Environmental Trust, the Sapphire Coast Regional Science Hub and Sustainability Education Network and Bournda Environmental Education Centre.
LIFE READY
A big thank you to the Bega High School PEHEPD staff and Year 10 students for the last two days of Life Ready activities at Bournda. The BHS school community has been through a terrible week but the students turned up ready to participate and showed a very resilient attitude.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER – BEST PRACTICE CASE STUDY
Bournda EEC has finalised the Australian Association for Environmental Education, NSW Chapter Leadership for Sustainability Program and recently completed our Birds of a Feather project with other Sapphire Coast Regional Science Hub members. The Science Hub also acts as a Regional Sustainability Educators Network (RSEN), collaborating on a wide range of projects and is working on a strategic plan for 2019.
Thank you to Erika Van Schellebeck, the AAEE Coordinator for helping us with the project. Erika secured extra time and resources to help us get the project finished after we were delayed because of the Tathra fire.
BIG THANK YOU to Pambula Public School and Tathra Public School teachers and students for your interest and enthusiasm.
Thanks to our Hub/RSEN partners Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness for their assistance. Other helpers were Far South Coast Birdwatchers Inc. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Far South Coast Conservation Management Network
The project was funded by Bournda Environmental Education Centre and the NSW Government Environmental Trust through the AAEE project.
As a National #ScienceWeek special feature, check out our new iBook, Saving our Shorebirds
This Multi-Touch Book has been created by Jules Donne, Bournda EEC in collaboration with Amy Harris, South Coast Shorebird Recovery Program, National Parks and Wildlife Service.
This iBook has been produced to highlight the incredible life cycle of threatened shorebirds that nest on our local Far South Coast beaches. Their conservation is helped by the many local volunteers who give up their time to assist the NPWS Threatened Shorebird Recovery Program. The production of this iBook was possible through support and grant funding from South East Local Lands Services and educational support from Bournda Environmental Eduction Centre. The NPWS Shorebird Recovery Program receives support and funding from the Saving Our Species program.
We acknowledge the Aboriginal Peoples as the traditional owners and custodians of the land and waters we write about. We pay our respects to their traditions, customs, sacred landmarks, stories, legends and their Elders past, present and future.
