Streamwatch‘s grant-funded Southeast Sydney Schools Program gained momentum in 2024, empowering schools in the Botany Bay and Georges River Catchment area to monitor and protect their local waterways.
Through this program, eligible schools can receive free access to a Streamwatch ALERT Kit, enabling them to collect important water quality data that contributes to a long-term citizen science dataset.
A Flexible Program for Every Classroom
Suitable for stages 2-6, Streamwatch offers hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that align seamlessly with Science, Geography, and Maths outcomes. By collecting and interpreting real-world data, students develop their critical thinking and scientific inquiry skills.
Whether it’s an in-class workshop or outdoor excursion, the Southeast Sydney Schools Program is completely customisable to meet every teacher’s needs. Beyond the classroom, Streamwatch can also support extracurricular activities like school environmental and sustainability committees, empowering students to take meaningful action for their community and the environment.
Highlights from 2024
Last year, schools across southeast Sydney made waves with their Streamwatch contributions. Together, their efforts supported waterway monitoring while learning about human impacts and aquatic ecosystems.
- Over 100 students from 8 schools participated in Streamwatch supported excursions.
- 28 datasets were collected from sites around the Georges River, Botany Bay, and Sutherland Shire areas.
On 18th November 2024, Streamwatch took a curious bunch of year 4 students from Oatley West Public School to measure water quality for the first time at Dairy Creek. Their complimentary end-of-year excursion included an introduction to the ALERT Kit, a waterbug biodiversity activity, and lively discussions about local birdlife. Tailored to their topics of study, this session explored macroinvertebrate life cycles, food webs, and the impacts that water quality has on ecosystem health.
The Collective Power of Citizen Science
Do you know a school in southeast Sydney that would benefit from this hands-on citizen science program? Spread the word and encourage them to get involved!
Streamwatch provides full support to participating schools—from equipment training and activity delivery to data upload assistance—making it easy to incorporate this fun, educational, and impactful program into teaching.
And the best part? It’s free!
Teachers can register to secure a Streamwatch ALERT Kit and book an introductory session for their students in the 2025 school year: Register Expression of Interest Here
Or email us at Streamwatch@greatersydneylandcare.org
Together, we can inspire the next generation of sustainability leaders to protect and care for our waterways!
