Mid, Far North schools collect $8400 NRC environmental award

Date: 07 August 2013

Mid, Far North schools collect $8400 NRC environmental awards

Pakaraka School has become one of the first mid-North schools to receive its funding from this year’s $20,000 Northland Regional Council Environmental Curriculum Awards (ECAs).

The regional council this week began presenting cheques to eight mid and Far North schools which are collectively sharing an $8400 slice of the 2013 Environmental Curriculum Awards. (Of the remaining winners, 11 schools are based in the Whangarei district and four in Kaipara.)

The council’s Environmental Education Officer Susan Botting says Pakaraka and Springbank Schools were recently (subs: Monday 05 August) presented with $900 and $600 respectively.

Pakaraka’s $900 has been spent to help plant a native bird food forest in the school grounds, which sit at the busy intersection of State Highways One and 10. When fully grown, the trees will also help reduce road noise. Springbank School’s $600 will be used to help develop riparian planting areas along part of the school's new multi-activity trails.

The annual ECAs aim to foster excellence in environmental education, with schools eligible for up to $2000 each for their efforts to educate children ‘in, about and for’ the region’s environment.

Ms Botting says this year alone, the awards will recognise and support environmental education efforts put in by more than 2200 Northland students in 140 classes and/or school student environmental groups.

The latest 23 award winners will receive between $200 and $1700 each for their 25 projects, with cheques will be presented to schools at assemblies over the next six weeks.

The winning mid and Far North schools are;

• Herekino School ($1700)
• Kaitaia College ($1000)
• Ohaeawai School ($1000)
• Okaihau College ($1100)
• Opua School ($1600)
• Oruaiti School ($500)
• Pakaraka School ($900)
• Springbank School ($600).

ENDS

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