In partnership with Landcare Australia, Woolworths Australia is offering over a million dollars in grants to schools and early learning centres for more Aussie kids to get involved in outdoor learning projects.
The Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants support projects focusing on sustainable food production, improving waste management or enhancing native habitats.
Woolworths Director of Stores, Jeanette Fenske, said the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program was all about supporting fun and engaging learning experiences that can help younger generations connect with natural environments.
“Our store teams across Australia have been proud to connect with local schools who have previously been awarded a grant thanks to our long-standing partnership with Landcare Australia,” said Fenske.
“We’ve been impressed how the funding we’ve provided has helped enhance their local school community and supported students in learning more about local landscapes, native animals, sustainability and how they can care for the environment.”
Since 2018, the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program has provided over $5 million in grants to almost 5,000 primary schools and early learning centres across Australia. This has seen more than 400,000 students getting hands-on with nature and caring for the environment in their community.
For Our Lady of the Angels Primary School in North Kellyville in Sydney, this involved the construction of a colour wheel garden filled with different colour flowers to attract bees. Across the country in Western Australia, East Kenwick Primary School worked to design, install and monitor six nesting boxes for the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, a local threatened species.
Dr Shane Norrish, CEO of Landcare Australia, said being outdoors in the natural environment positively benefits children's mental health and well-being.
“The partnership between Woolworths and Landcare Australia has enabled hundreds of educators an opportunity to provide meaningful environmental education programs. These programs offer experiences that are helping children learn how they can care for the land and be the next generation of Landcare leaders,” said Dr Norrish.
