ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Marlborough District Council runs a waste minimisation and environmental education programme.

Click here to see what programmes we run or scroll down for further information.

Green Talk

Around the third Saturday each month we produce a GreenTalk page for the Saturday Express.  This is our community newsletter and it encourages residents to become a little more sustainable for the benefit of our environment.  It has ideas, suggestions and also information and dates for our upcoming seminars. 

See previous Green Talk Pages

For more information on any of our education programmes please contact Annie McDonald, Education Officer annie.mcdonald@marlborough.govt.nz.

EDUCATION PROGRAMMES FOR SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

We value the opportunity to work with schools on environmental programmes. We have developed a number of programmes which are curriculum linked where possible. We are available to come and work with schools on planning and implementing programmes in the Marlborough region.  We have good resources available and experience working with both primary and secondary schools.

Green Talk Schools Newsletter

Each term we send out a Green Talk Schools Newsletter (1.2Mb)   to schools in our region.  This newsletter has information, ideas and resources plus updates on our programmes for teachers in our region.

See previous Green Talk Schools Newsletters

Current programmes available include:

Enviroschools -  A programme that is a journey towards creating a more sustainable school that looks at four key areas such as the curriculum, physical environment, operational practices and organisational management in schools. It works on five themes, Me and My Environment, Zero Waste, Healthy Water, Precious Energy, Living Landscapes and Ecological Buildings. This programme is supported by a facilitator to help your school on the journey and some great resources. Enviroschools pamphlet (1.6Mb).  Also check out the EnviroSchools national website http://www.enviroschools.org.nz/.  

EnviroSchools Awards - each year the Marlborough District Council runs the EnviroSchools Awards to celebrate and congratulate schools who have integrated environmental education programmes into their curriculum.    The Marlborough Regional EnviroSchools awards close on 30 October each year and need to be addressed to The Education Officer, Marlborough District Council, PO Box 443, Blenheim 7240 by this date.  If you think you might be interested in entering the Marlborough EnviroSchools Awards check out the information booklet or scroll down to the EnviroSchools Awards information. 

Download booklet Enviroschools Awards booklet (1.9 mb).

Organic waste - Almost a third of our refuse bags are organic waste. Schools also have lots of organic waste from lunches. There are two ways we can help you reduce this. We can supply a worm farm and activity kit or an EM Bokashi system and the Bokashi refill bags free of charge.  There are some conditions schools must meet before we install either of these systems. Download A Guide to Worm Composting or A Guide to EM Bokashi (681 kb).

Kids Edible Garden (580 kb) - A programme which looks at using the compost from worm farms or EM Bokashi systems to start an organic edible garden for your school. This programme comes with a comprehensive kit and funds can be applied for through the DHBs to develop the garden. We will also assist schools with facilitation of the programme if it is delivered as a curriculum based programme in schools.

Wise up on Worms Recycling Kit (456 kb) - a kit developed to deal with organic wastes and the lifecycle of the super compost worm, the tiger worm.  Supported with a free worm kit and worms.

Waste minimisation - In Marlborough we produce enough waste each year to fill one rugby field 12 storeys high! Our waste reduction kit has information and activities for schools. We can also come in and talk to schools about waste and recycling and arrange visits to the transfer station, compost operation and Resource Recovery Centre. Yo kids! Waste Reduction Kit (1.1 mb)

 The State of our Planet   - a factual information package on what the real statistics are on water, earth, air, energy and what we can do locally to make a difference.

For more information on any of our education programmes please contact Annie McDonald, Education Officer annie.mcdonald@marlborough.govt.nz.  

Wai Korero (Water Awareness and Information kit).   This waterways awareness programme is available free of charge to all primary schools throughout Marlborough.  The kit integrates the water cycle, water conservation and ecology into the school's core curriculum areas including:  Science, Maths, English, Te Reo Technology and the Arts.  The programme is divided into three main components, pre-field trip activities, field trip activities and follow-up activities.  The field trip activities are run by our programme co-ordinator who also supplies all of the resources required for a great day out in the field learning about one of our most precious resources.

If you would like more information about this programme please contact Peter Hamill at the Marlborough District Council on 03 520 7400 or by emailing peter.hamill@marlborough.govt.nz.

Download Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader

Welcome to the ENVIROSCHOOLS AWARDS

You are part of a growing community of schools in New Zealand and internationally who want to make a difference to our environment.

Enviroschools Awards booklet (1.9 mb)

What's the Enviroschools Awards about?

The Enviroschools Awards are available to all schools. It is designed as an incentive scheme for schools to become actively involved in environmental education and to undertake environmental initiatives that will make a real difference in their communities.

The awards scheme works by involving the whole school - students, teachers, non-teaching staff, board of trustees and members of the local community - parents, local councils and businesses.

Participation in the Enviroschools Awards scheme will be an important step in guiding the community to adopt a sustainable lifestyle, one that will improve and enhance the environment for present and future generations.

What's the purpose?

To encourage schools towards becoming a sustainable community incorporating best environmental practices that will carry over into home/everyday life such as; reducing waste, conserving energy, improving air and water quality, protecting and enhancing our biodiversity (plants, animals, ecosystems) or reducing our car trips.

What the scheme offers your school

• An opportunity to make Environmental Education a central part of school life.
• Enriched and integrated educational experiences
• An opportunity to develop young people's decision making skills
• Potential for financial savings
• A chance to share ideas with other schools
• Access to a network of support agencies
• A national award
• An opportunity to become part of a global movement

The Awards

There are three awards:

Bronze
Silver
Green-Gold

The Green-Gold award is a prestigious award requiring a commitment to continuous improvement towards sustainability. 

(Please note that the Green-Gold award is not able to be applied for in 2008 as the awards are currently being revamped by the National EnviroSchools Office.)

A framed certificate and flag/banner is awarded to each school.

Creating a sustainable school environment

Environmental Education is much more than the core curriculum.  It is about how we facilitate learning. It is about what we do to look after our physical environment, how we try to reduce our impact on the environment and how we interact with each other education for the environment.

Awards structure - the elements

The Enviroschools Awards scheme is made up of seven elements grouped around four key areas of school life. In some regions there may be a reqirement to participate in a local government or community project (Regional Link).

You must complete the elements two key areas at bronze, three key areas for silver and all key areas for green-gold.

Key areas of school life	Elements
Organisational Management	Envirogroup Whole school and community involvement Environmental care code and environmental education procedures Environmental review
Operational Practices	5.   Action projects
Physical Surroundings	6.     Action projects          - built environment          - natural environment
Living Curriculum	7.      Teaching and learning
Regional Links	8.      Regional initiatives

BUSINESS/INDUSTRY PROGRAMMES

Council can link you to a number of programmes incuding:

• Links to programmes like the following:  

  •  Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
  • The Natural Step http://www.thenaturalstep.org.nz/.  
  • For BusinessCare's website click on http://www.businesscare.org.nz/
  • Landcare's Envirosmart Programme http://www.envirosmart.co.nz/ 
  • Green Globe programme http://www.greenglobenz.com/

We have a booklet that might be helpful for your business:

• The Environmental Management System information booklet
  • Making Better use of Your Resources (110 kb)

We have available a copy of:

• The Industry Waste programme - a report on Marlborough's main industries to find out what their issues with waste are, what methods they currently use and what their future needs will be.  

For further information, please contact:

Marlborough District Council's Customer Service Officers Phone +64 3 520 7400 or Annie McDonald, Education Officer, email: annie.mcdonald@marlborough.govt.nz or Willi Borst Solid Waste Manager, email:  willi.borst@marlborough.govt.nz