Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Association Inc. (SLCMA) provides a variety of support to local schools including:
- Invitation to utilise facilities at the SLCMA Education Precinct, Cnr Sarina Beach Road and Cemetery Road, Sarina.
- Loan of resources and activity kits
- Support for schools and classes with environmental projects, activities and programs
- Advice for plantings of native plants in school grounds
- Free membership: monthly newsletter, notice of events & activities
Facilities available at the SLCMA Education Precinct, Sarina.
- SLCMA Community Nursery: Native plant propagation activities
- Sarina Community Native Gardens: Demonstrating the use and benefits of native plants in gardens. Join in a guided tour of the gardens, gain an understanding of local vegetation types and habitats, native plant identification and sensory gardens.
- Native bee hive: See first-hand native bees at work, in our very own bee hive. Learn about the benefit of these hard working, native friends.
- Worm farm & composting: Learn about integrating wriggly worms and compost into your backyard garden system; to minimise waste, recycle nutrients and improve soil health.
- Water Treatment Train: A working display of a wetland system, demonstrating the way a wetland is capable of filtering water through vegetation before it reaches the ocean. A great tool for teaching the values of wetlands.
- Sustainable food garden: A working food garden that enables students to get their hands dirty. Learn about growing your own food in a sustainable manner.
Resources available for loan by local schools:
- Catchment River Story Kit: An interactive activity for the whole class. Learn about the journey of water from the top of the catchment, through various locally relevant land uses and out to the ocean. Discuss why it is important to have good water quality and what we can do to ensure we maintain and improve water quality.
- Macro-invertebrate (aquatic critters) sampling and identification kit: Here is the perfect opportunity for students to explore their local creek environment. Go on a journey of discovery as students search for and idenfity macro-invertebrates and how they can be an indicator of the health of the aquatic environment they live in. There is even an opportunity to compare different environments such as creeks, dams, drains.
- Books, fact sheet and posters relating to catchments, landcare, biodiversity, coast and marine, land management and much much more….
Support for individual classes and schools
- School Support Program: SLCMA staff are available to offer one-one support for local schools. We can assist with project design, planning and funding applications for school landcare projects such as establishing native and food gardens, worm farms & composting; rehabilitating natural areas; nesting boxes. We can also provide class presentations and talks on a variety of Landcare and natural environment topics. Please note, the time allocated for this service is limited and subject to funding. This program is funded through the Mackay Regional Council, Natural Environment Program.
- School Activity Days: SLCMA holds School Activity Days whereby local primary schools are invited to participate in a half day interactive, educational activity program. The event is held at different locations within the Sarina Catchment and, relates to a particular theme such as coasts and marine, sustainability, catchment management, flora and fauna. Students and teachers receive an activity booklet and travel assistance is provide to schools to attend. This program is funded through the Mackay Regional Council Natural Environment Program.
- Environmental Awareness Days: SLCMA staff can assist schools to participate in environmental days such as Schools National Tree Day, Great Northern Clean Up, Coastcare week.
- Reef Guardian School Program: SLCMA works with local schools and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to provide support for the Reef Guardian School Program.
