Enviroschools

What Are Enviroschools?

Enviroschools is a nation-wide programme of environmental education for primary and secondary schools. In Tasman it is sponsored by the Tasman District Council, recognising environmental education for the younger generation is a key part in securing a sustainable future for our region.

Enviroschools is a national programme which offers schools a framework to link environmental education projects together, to have a vision for the school, to support the schools in planning and action and to help integrate projects into the organisation and operation of the school. Resources and facilitation are provided to support the school. These are funded by Tasman District Council with support from the Enviroschools Head Office in Hamilton.

We have a motivated Enviroschools (ES) team of people in the region. If your children go to school in Tasman talk to your teachers, the Board of Trustees or the Principal about becoming an Enviroschool.

For information about Enviroschools in the Tasman/ Nelson region contact Adie Leng - Enviroschools Co-ordinator, Tasman District Council.

Cultural Perspective

When a student comes away from the school establishment they meet their peers, their siblings, their parents, their grandparents, their relatives, their neighbours, their whanau, their community. What is learnt at school is transferred to the wider community. Therefore, if that learning is linked to sustainable actions, environmental awareness and kaitiakitanga (guardianship), this will have a ripple effect. For example, a student who uses a worm farm to turn organic waste into a resource at school will suggest that others do the same, provided that they understand the deeper issues. In this way, educating students can be seen as a tool for educating the rest of the community about environmental issues.

The aim of Enviroschools is that we will have a generation of empowered citizens who are educated to create a sustainable future. What better (and more essential) vision could there be?

Further Information

For further information about Enviroschools in the Tasman/ Nelson region contact Adie Leng - Enviroschools Co-ordinator, Tasman District Council.

Enviroschools website: www.enviroschools.org.nz