The South East Schools project continues to grow, bringing students together to explore and care for their local waterways. Through hands-on water testing and environmental activities, young people are connecting with nature while contributing to important citizen science that supports the health of our environment.
Streamwatch and Kamay Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre (KBBEEC) are proud to announce a partnership aimed at providing practical, hands-on learning opportunities for local schools.
Qualified teachers from KBBEEC, employed by the NSW Department of Education and specialising in environmental and sustainability education, will develop and enhance secondary programs that integrate Streamwatch water quality activities as a core component.
Through this collaboration, both organisations aim to engage schools across the Sutherland Shire, Bayside, and Canterbury-Bankstown local government areas. Working with KBBEEC will expand on existing initiatives with the Cooks River Alliance and the Georges Riverkeeper, strengthening student learning outcomes in environmental science and sustainability.
Through Streamwatch, students gain a water-tight understanding of scientific monitoring, long-term data collection, and the importance of healthy waterways. Still not sure? Don’t worry — let this glowing feedback from one of our participating teachers soak in:
“The students had a fantastic time engaging with hands-on science related to their local river ecosystem. By connecting them directly with their local environment and showing them how to monitor and assess environmental health, you have helped develop the next generation of environmentally aware citizens who understand their role in protecting our natural resources.
We were particularly impressed by how the hands-on approach helped students understand the direct connection between water quality and ecosystem health. Many students commented on how exciting it was to discover the variety of aquatic life in their local waterway, the Georges River, and understand what these organisms tell us about environmental conditions.
The excursions complemented our current science curriculum perfectly, and we observed genuine enthusiasm from students who are often less engaged in traditional classroom settings. Your instructors’ expertise and ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible to our year levels was excellent.
Thank you again for providing such a valuable learning experience.“
Beyond the classroom, Streamwatch can also support extracurricular activities like school environmental and sustainability committees. It’s amazing to sea the ripple effect this program has on students’ engagement and awareness of our natural world.
Know a school or scout group in South East Sydney who’d love this program?
Don’t let this opportunity ebb away — spread the word! Let’s get more students into nature, engaging with science, and making a difference.
