Wurruk Primary School will be one of the 103 groups to share in more than the $409,000 statewide provided by the state government through the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants program.
Other recipients will include childcare centres, kindergartens, schools, Scouts, Guides and youth groups across Victoria.
Grants of up to $5000 were awarded for educational activities that engage children in conservation and projects that improve and expand habitat for native plants, insects and wildlife.
Wurruk Primary School received $4475 for a corroboree frog project, including a trip for students to Healesville Sanctuary.
Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh said Wurruk Primary students would learn about local biodiversity and then get their hands dirty improving habitat for local species.
“As the secretary of the recently established Parliamentary Friends of Landcare, I’m excited to see our government supporting Junior Landcarers as they learn how to look after the environment and boost biodiversity in a practical way,” he said.
Wurruk Primary School teacher Sarah Collins said the funding provided the school with the opportunity to become immersed in an engaging project to care for our environment.
“The Landcare funding meant we furthered our studies into the endangered corroboree frog and take the whole school on an excursion to Healesville Sanctuary to learn about their breeding program.”
“All students participated in designing, preparing and building a frog bog within our school which would hope to increase biodiversity and encourage local species of frogs to thrive.”
Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the government was proud to support the next generation of Victorians to learn and take action to protect the natural environment.
Tate Richards is among Wurruk Primary School students taking part in environmental projects.
