Organised by Landcare and UNE Discovery the event engaged schools in Walcha, Guyra, Uralla and Armidale.

UNE Discovery is a new initiative in science outreach and engagement with hands-on activities.

Schools Landcare Coordinator Sarah Schmude said the event was organised to educate children on ecology and to encourage them to drive change in their local area.

“We want to embed knowledge and skills so that conservation becomes an innate thing, we want these kids to feel free to ask questions and explore nature.

The idea is to inspire children and open their minds,” she said. 

The students attended an international film festival at the Belgrave Cinema and watched films on space exploration, the life cycle of eels and coral bleaching. 

Landcare teamed up with UNE Discovery to provide children with a scientific understanding of conservation.

Schools Landcare Coordinator Sarah Schmude believes it is important for students to think about global issues locally.

“We want to break down barriers and we want students to be conscious and approach these issues without fear.

Collaboration is absolutely key to everything, the link with UNE helps us to create relationships with the community and makes us stronger," she said. 

Dr Kirsti Abbott leads UNE Discovery and said the response from students and teachers was incredibly positive.

“It’s great for these kids to learn that they are more than just a steward of the Earth.

I think a lot of the time we assume that children don’t understand complex issues and as a result we dumb things down, but I think it’s important that we explain the science behind ecology to support curiosity and confidence in young kids,” she said. 

Dr Abbott said the program would teach kids to consider their impact on the environment.

“What we’re actually doing is creating leaders of the future and the social impact of what we teach these children will be seen as these kids reach their teenage years,” she said.