Orara Valley Learning Community

Project Profile

Issues

Commencing in 2002 the Orara Valley Learning Project, involving seven small schools in the Orara Valley Learning Community, has worked to solve important local environmental problems. The schools have worked in partnership with Landcare and Rivercare groups to remove and regenerate significant areas of the Orara River and Karangi Creek.  Involvement with river restoration projects has not only given over 500 students the skills and understandings for managing riparian zones but has enthused and up-skilled teachers and parents across the valley.

Project Detail

The Orara Valley Learning Community has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for implementing an environmental education program in schools across the district and working towards environmental conservation.

Since 2002, the project involving seven small schools in the Orara Valley Learning Community including Karangi Public School, Coramba P.S., Nana Glen P.S., Glenreagh P.S., Ulong P.S., Upper Orara P.S. and Lowana P.S. has worked to solve important local environmental problems. The schools have worked in partnership with Landcare and Rivercare groups to remove and regenerate significant areas of the Orara River and Karangi Creek.  The work undertaken by the group is setting the bench mark for school environmental programs across the country.

The major challenge for the Orara Valley community has been the removal of the invasive weed tree – camphor laurel, which causes major problem for the creeks and river habitats in the Orara Valley. Being involved in real life community projects has allowed students to develop lifelong skills and values.

The Orara Valley Learning Community has established strong links with a number of different environmental partners including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coffs Harbour City Council, Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority as well as local landcare and community groups. Educational resources are being developed across all schools in collaboration with many external environmental agencies and local businesses.

A team from Karangi School represented the valley at the International River Health Conference in 2007. These students shared their learning journey with children and teachers from across the country in a powerful and entertaining workshop about the camphor laurels and the work being done by students to help solve this community problem. Involvement with river restoration projects has not only given over 500 students the skills and understandings for managing riparian zones but has enthused and up-skilled teachers and parents across the valley.

Four schools within the Orara Valley were the founding primary school members of the Coffs Coast Youth Environmental Council (YEC). The YEC is now an organisation of students and teachers from 28 schools across the district with over 80 representatives attending workshops. The group meets once a term to focus on developing environmental knowledge and understanding across a range of areas, in particular learning about local ecosystems. As a result of these sessions, many schools have been inspired and gained the confidence to include environmental projects into classroom programs. In addition, the YEC has been recognised as a leading initiative within the Department of Education and Training.

Students were invited to present at the State Environmental Educators Conference in February 2008 and are having direct input on the development of the new Sustainable Schools Plan for the Department of Education and Training. In August 2009 a team from Karangi School participated in the Junior Landcare Conference in Sydney representing the Orara Valley story and their ongoing commitment to being young landcarers.

Through the project, students have created strong ties with their local community whilst making a significant contribution to their local environment.

The Orara Valley Learning Community 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

Orara Valley Learning Community-Bug Survey