The Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning recently subsidised tickets for Primary School aged children across the Eastern Suburbs to attend an exclusive performance of 'ARC' at The Round in Nunawading. 

173 students enjoyed the performance featuring naturalistic puppets of endangered animals and a message of the power of individuals to preserve and protect our natural environment.

Following the performance students participated in a workshop facilitated by Whitehorse Environmental Education Officers. The hands-on workshop was designed to inspire action to increase the biodiversity at their homes and schools. 

Students selected a local native animal that they would like to see more of in their neighbourhood and then investigated the habitat requirements of that animal. 

In small groups the students added to a map of their school the elements that their chosen animal needs for survival. Flowering shrubs for butterflies, water dishes for skinks, nest boxes for sugar gliders and tall trees for possums and birds were just some of the common elements added to the maps.

Homeschooling families were also welcome at the performance and workshop. These families worked together to make a plan for increasing biodiversity in their neighbourhoods, starting with their own garden and surrounds.

At the end of the day there were lots of enthusiastic plans to put the biodiversity maps on display and to share the events of the day back at school and with the community.

Each school and family left with a goodie bag to help start their plan for increasing local biodiversity into reality. The bags contained posters, some native plants, a guide for Indigenous Plants and a copy of the Kids for Trees booklet for each student.

For more information on the free services to schools, groups and the community visit Whitehorse Environmental Education.

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