Ag Day with Murtoa College

A fantastic initiative, Murtoa College hosted its ‘Ag Day’ recently, which allowed primary students to explore local industries through activities facilitated by professionals from different organisations including Birchip Cropping Group, Longerenong College, and Yarrilinks Landcare.

Each facilitator was given 1hr to run activities for each of the 5 classes - making for a full day of learning both inside and outside of the classroom. Yarrilinks Landcare was appropriately given the school’s workshed as headquarters for a range of simple activities that had students of all ages thinking about beneficial insects, habitat for wildlife, and the importance of taking care of natural environments as part of our schools, farms and community.

The junior primary years were eagar to learn about bugs and developed their own mantra about wildlife protection. being “don’t smush bugs!”. They enjoyed a rock painting activity wherein they identified various critters and created decorative ornaments hihglighting favourite species - butterflies and ladybugs were the most popular, but extra credit was given to the rhinoceros beetle rock for creativity.

The middle primary students - too excited for the classroom, were lead on an urban-bush walk to explore the school dam and bushland plot. On the banks of the damn the students were taken through breathwork practices, before a guided meditation asking them to listen, feel, see, smell and hear their natural surrounds. Birds were identified as present at the site, while the wind was noted as sensory, and the dam itself didn’t appeal to many noses. The students were then asked to discuss why natural environments are important to look after, with Marney resigning to the overwhelming response, “to ride motorbikes through”. Sometimes Landcare begins on the back of a dirtbike …

Nature journals provided to the students for reflection based learning.

The last activity of the day asked the senior primary years to construct flat pack nest boxes. The nest boxes had been pre-cut and pre-drilled by Bruce at the WCMA (many thanks, Bruce!) for ease of assembly. The students took turns with the drill before painting their nest boxes. The boxes were designed for small marsupials and will be hung around the school in the hopes of providing habitat to wandering antechinus.

It was a satisfying, albeit challenging day, wherin the curiousity of children continues to inspire hope for the next generation of nature stewardship in the Wimmera. With many students advocating for a farming future, the message that Landcare provides is one of balance between environment and industry, creating a vision where there’s enough trees left for the humble squirrel glider or shingleback to exist happily against amongst the ever-expanding farm horizon. And kids get that.

Yarrilinks Landcare is looking to facilitate more activities for students, get in touch for more information.