1. Apply for a Grant through the Junior Landcare Grants Program

Australian youth have the opportunity to make a difference to our environment thanks to the Junior Landcare Grants Program. The program presents a wide range of diverse projects at a local level to assist the environment in many areas around Australia.

Junior Landcare Grants Program is a grant scheme open to schools and other youth organisations around Australia. It provides funds to enable young people to participate in local Landcare projects. Schools or groups can apply for one of a variety of grants - either by choosing a project from an existing model or by creating a plan of their own specifically relating to a local issue or local need. Click here to find out more .

2. Take action

Once you've identified local issues, you need to decide what you are going to do about them, how you are going to operate and with whom you are going to work. Schools can develop their own landcare project, form their own landcare group or join forces with an existing landcare group.

Some suggestions on how schools can be involved in landcare are given below. Schools should also talk to their regional landcare facilitator or local landcare coordinator about other ideas and to find out about successful school landcare activities.

Before you start any on-ground work, check with the school administration and other groups you may be working with to ensure that everyone involved is covered by insurance.

3. Develop a landcare project

• Design a landcare project that not only helps to restore a degraded environment but also teaches others about landcare. It is usually best to think small and work on something which can achieve change within a school term or year. Your project could involve removing weeds and rubbish, bush regeneration, planting trees, monitoring water quality or designing and planning rehabilitation activities.
  
• The success of your project will rely on thorough planning and research, and strong communication links with key people in the local community.
  
• Carry out a monitoring program to determine if your project, or the local landcare group's work is achieving change and environmental improvements.

4. Form a landcare group

• There are many school landcare groups operating around Australia. However, these groups rely heavily on the commitment and dedication of at least one teacher or a member of the local community.
  
• Community support officers can help you set up a group and they have information sheets on a range of associated topics such as planning your project, maintaining a group, funding, sponsorship and insurance.
  

5. Link with your local landcare or similar group

• Go to www.landcareonline.com or contact a community support officer to find out about Landcare, Bushcare, Dunecare, Rivercare or other groups in your area who are working on improving the environment. There may also be local council committees or trusts looking after local Crown reserves.
  
• Discuss with a local group how you can work together. Your school could become involved in the environmental and conservation activities of a landcare group or help with their planning. Alternatively, the school could volunteer to help out with on-ground activities as needed by particular groups.
  
• Your school and the local landcare group could develop a joint landcare project.

6. Challenge students to an energy efficient future

The Home Energy Project (HEP) is a free comprehensive resource for Years 7-9 students with strong links to the Victorian and South Australian curriculum.  Through HEP activities, students and their households are empowered to make a difference to the environment by saving energy and money.

The resource contains interactive activities as well as an energy efficiency calculator to explore household energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. To order your free kit or find out more, call 1800 659 511 or visit www.originenergy.com.au/hep.