Lanyon High School

Project Profile

Issues

By incorporating environment and sustainability into the school curriculum and working with community groups and industry on a number of projects, Lanyon High School is ensuring a sustainable future and promoting community awareness and responsibility. The efforts of Lanyon students have also played a significant role in the restoration of the Birrigai landscape following the 2003 bushfires.

Project Detail

Canberra’s Lanyon High School has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for its work and dedication in becoming a sustainable school and their ongoing contribution to the local community.

For many years, Lanyon High School has raised awareness, knowledge and understanding of landcare among its students and the local community.

The Landcare ethos has been incorporated into all areas of the Lanyon curriculum and particularly in the Horticulture and Sustainable Futures classes. The school aims to improve the understanding of all students on environmental issues and as of 2010, these courses are a compulsory part of the curriculum for all year nine and ten students.

Since 1997, with the support of Greening Australia, Conservation Volunteers Australia and the Southern ACT Catchment Group, students have planted thousands of trees, revegetated a creek line and created a bush garden within the school. By working with industry and conservation groups, students have been exposed to the many and varied elements of environmental conservation and sustainability management.

The students have also built a greenhouse that provides thousands of plants for various vegetation projects around the school and for other schools including Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Birrigai School, the Southern ACT Catchment group, various landcare groups, rangers and Greening Australia.

Lanyon High School continues to implement landcare practices within the school and local community and is currently working on further projects around the school and at Birrigai Outdoor School as part of the Adopt a School project.

Students are busy propagating native plants in the school’s greenhouse to revegitate the Tuggeranong Homestead creek line, to re-establish native grassland along a section of degraded creek.

The efforts of Lanyon students have also played a significant role in the restoration of the Birrigai landscape following the 2003 bushfires.

By incorporating environment and sustainability into the school curriculum and working with community groups and industry on a number of projects, Lanyon High School is ensuring a sustainable future and promoting community awareness and responsibility.

The Lanyon High School project is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010. Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work.

Photography

Lanyon High School Greenhouse