sustainable goals scored and students are the big winners! · perception of sharks to eliminate...

SCHOOL OF

THOUGHT

www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges

With footy season in full swing, schools and preschools across the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges are scoring goals of a different kind with support from NRM Education.

School and preschool staff are achieving Education for Sustainability (EfS) goals and seeing high quality learning outcomes for students as a result.

St Michael’s College is one of these goal-scoring schools, recently launching their wetland project, which converted an area bordering their football oval into a stunning wetland.

“The beautiful wetland is a credit to the hard working staff and students,” said Elisia Banks, NRM Education Central Coordinator. “And we’ve been really impressed by the additional outcomes achieved because this wetland project is part of a whole of school focus on EfS.”

Education for Sustainability takes a whole-of-school approach. It develops the knowledge, skills, values and behaviours of students, staff and the wider community to lead and live sustainable lives.

The wetland project, coordinated by student leaders and the school’s environmental committee, supports the school’s sustainability vision. Every class in the school engaged in inquiry learning to assist the project development, and food gardens, recycling and a composting systems also enrich the learning experience for students.

“EfS creates opportunities for students to apply their learning through real work in the school and community which is critical to engage our boys with learning”, said Deputy Principal Damian Patton.

“Having a whole of school focus with a vision developed by our school community meant we already had people on board to build the wetland”, he said.

Read on to find out more about how NRM Education can support you to kick your sustainability goals.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

2 Is an Education for Sustainability focus right for your site?

3 EfS Network meets at The Joinery

4 Full moon shines on youth camp

5 Leadership camp photo gallery

6 Hidden winter treasures

TERM 3 2015 ISSUE

Sustainable goals scored and students are the big winners!

Proud Deputy Principal Damian Patton opening the wetland

As part of our Education for Sustainability (EfS) focus for 2015 NRM Education works intensively with schools and preschools (like St Michael’s College) that are interested in having a focus on EfS. See that story on page 1 for details.

EfS solves the problem of a crowded curriculum by providing the ‘Big Ideas’ (inquiry question) that tie together cross curriculum priorities, general capabilities and content from different subject areas.

It is a vehicle for school leaders to implement key areas of the Teaching for Effective Learning framework including staff development, student voice and learning in authentic contexts (which are resonating with government and non-government school leaders alike).

For Early Years sites an EfS focus supports Quality Improvement Plan reporting and achievement of outcomes in the Early Years Learning Framework.

Benefits we’ve seen sites achieve through an EfS focus include:

• authentic learning in real world contexts

• sparking child curiosity and increased student engagement

• improved learning outcomes (including literacy and numeracy)

• opportunities for students to apply critical thinking and problem solving

• capturing the enthusiasm and energy of parents, teachers and students all working together to create something special

• schools saving money, reducing their footprint, and an increase in student and staff wellbeing.

Schools and preschools with a whole-of-site EfS focus are given priority with School NRM Action Grants (funded by the NRM levy) and are invited to become showcase schools at the NRM Education for Sustainability awards held in October.

For more details about Education for Sustainability and how to access support from NRM Education visit www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges and look under ‘Education’.

Is an Education for Sustainability focus right for your site?

Developing a vision and a plan is an important component of Education for Sustainability

Exploring the creatures that come to call this habitat home; the next instalment for the St.Michael’s children’s learning journey

2 | Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

A core objective of the NRM Education program is to promote and explore opportunities for Education for Sustainability (EfS) with organisations providing a service to schools. As a means of achieving this, the EfS Network was established in 2011 for partner organisations to meet, share and learn from each other.

On Thursday 18 June the EfS Network met at The Joinery, a recently-launched community environment space in Adelaide’s CBD on Franklin Street. As host to organisations such as the Conservation Council of SA, Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Conservation Volunteers Australia and a Natural Resource Centre, it was an ideal setting to demonstrate the theme of the day; Partnerships for Achieving Sustainability.

Network participants had the opportunity to hear from a series of guest speakers, take a tour of the repurposed building, workshop their existing partnerships, receive an update on NRM Education’s approach to achieving culture change in schools, and network with other organisations.

Craig Wilkins, Chief Executive of Conservation Council SA, shared his background in public health and social services before explaining the dynamics and potential of strong, committed relationships between organisations to achieve change. Sharing his experience within one of a group of organisations successfully lobbying the establishment of marine parks in South Australia, and the value of strong partnerships in the development of The Joinery, Craig emphasised the importance of creating and maintaining strong, meaningful relationships, co-designing to create a shared vision and being flexible in how you strive to achieve it.

Lauren Jew from Aldinga Children’s Centre and Matt Adams from the City of Onkaparinga gave an overview of their partnership in developing the Our Big Backyard program, an initiative encouraging families and children in Aldinga to spend more time outdoors and connect with their local environments through the vehicle of nature play. Their partnership enabled broad consultation with local families and children to develop a suite of resources specific to Aldinga, a successful series of community events and it paved the way for the initiative to be broadened to other local areas.

Matt Cattanach from NRM Education explained the team’s new approach to encouraging EfS in AuSSI-SA sites and measuring sustainable culture change through NRM Education’s Core Indicators tool. He shared his experience with St Michael’s College as an example of a site shifting from an environment project approach to a whole-of-school Education for Sustainability approach.

Hugh Kneebone, manager of NRM Education and convener of the SA Chapter of the Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE), provided an update on the upcoming AAEE Biennial Conference to be held in Adelaide in 2016, and gave participants an opportunity to contribute feedback and ideas for potential partnerships and conference themes to be explored over the coming months.

Amy Blaylock, also from NRM Education, concluded the day’s activities with an opportunity for participants to identify and explore their organisation’s existing partnerships that could be either renewed, further developed or discontinued.

The EfS Network consists of individuals in organisations providing a service to schools working towards social and environmental sustainability. If you would like to join the mailing list please email NRM Education’s Sophie Rogers at [email protected].

Examining the community garden space

Craig Wilkins captivates the audience at The Joinery

EfS Network meets at The Joinery

Brainstorming for the AAEE Conference

Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges | 3

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

Where can you go in Adelaide these days and still have a campfire, night hike, frog hunt and nature walks in a beautiful woodland setting and beneath a full moon?

Bridgewater is the answer! These activities were experienced by 55 students from around SA who attended this year’s Youth Environment Council leadership camp run by NRM Education at Arbury Park Outdoor School.

The camp was used as a setting for the students to develop their environmental and leadership skills, meet like-minded people, share ideas and experience nature first-hand.

The council encourages students to take action to make a difference in their local schools and community and to promote more sustainable lifestyles.

Project development was a major theme over the three days: working in groups, students brainstormed ideas around their areas of interest.

This year the most popular topics were climate, renewable energy, the preciousness of our resources, marine environments, animals, and biodiversity.

“I have learnt how to go about our projects. This includes who I should talk to, other support networks, and I have met some amazing like-minded people.”

Some really exciting and innovative projects being developed this year are: creating a ‘Bin Monster’ that says “feed me!” to encourage students to throw more rubbish in the correct bin; making a school canteen palm oil free; and changing people’s perception of sharks to eliminate shark culling.

Guest speaker 21-year-old Lovisa Muydermann from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition inspired students with her personal journey to educate others about climate change.

Students also learned a positive message about the Earth’s climate in a broader context. i.e. that there are some external forces influencing our climate (such as the Earth’s tilt, which creates our seasons), which we cannot alter, and other factors such as Greenhouse gases, which we can do something about as individuals in our daily decision-making and choices.

Students will now take their evolving project ideas back to their communities and schools, and develop them over the year. An important challenge is for them to answer the questions “how will you involve other individuals and groups in your project, and who will these groups and individuals be?” in order to gain maximum leverage and a ripple effect in their local community.

This is where school environmental groups and SRCs can play a role, and in some cases one of the students’ challenges will be to form such environmental groups in their school if one does not already exist.

A sharing and celebration forum will be held on 19 October at Cleland Wildlife Park where the students will again come together to share their experiences and host a ‘Project Expo’ showcasing their projects to invited guests, families and NRM Education staff, as well as the SA Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation.

Full moon shines on youth camp

Searching for frogs in and around the ponds

4 | Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

Leadership camp photo galleryAt the camp YEC students undertook a range of indoor and outdoor activities such as nature walks, project planning, learning about environmnetal issues, getting to know each other and working in teams.

Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges | 5

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges

As the seasons change, so do plant communities in our gardens, suburban parks and conservation reserves.

While the arrival of winter means many of us are longing for warm spring days, there are always hidden winter treasures to capture your interest.

This winter, discovering these treasures will be easier thanks to two new identification charts; Fungi of the Adelaide Hills and Common native orchids of the Adelaide Hills.

These colourful fact-packed charts are collaborations between Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges, the Native Orchid Society of South Australia and the Adelaide Fungal Studies Group.

The charts are suitable for school children and adults to use in the field, illustrated with beautiful colour photographs, descriptions of each plant or fungus and keys to expand the user’s knowledge.

Different species of fungi and orchid appear all year round, so there’s always something interesting to discover, no matter what season you go hunting.

FungiMost commonly appearing in autumn and winter, fungi come in many shapes, sizes, colours and levels of toxicity (no fungi growing in the wild should ever be eaten).

One dangerous yet familiar winter sight is the Fly Agaric, originally from the northern hemisphere. With its white ‘warts’ dotting a bright red cap it brings to mind the ‘toadstools’ which appear in many fairy tales. This poisonous fungus grows mainly in pine forests.

Other fungi you may see throughout winter include the Weeping Bolete and Green Skinhead. Fungi have an important role to play in maintaining the health of gardens and natural environments by decomposing and recycling dead plant and animal material. In addition, fungi can form vital relationships with plants to help them take up nutrients.

OrchidsIn almost every month of the year, at least one native orchid will be flowering somewhere in the Adelaide Hills. Winter flowering orchids include the Blood Greenhood, Mosquito Orchid, and the Winter Gnat Orchid.

Many of South Australia’s native orchids differ from those available at florists or garden centres. The local orchids are often small and delicate, difficult to propagate and sometimes hard to find. But they more than compensate for their cryptic nature with a startling array of ingenious methods of pollination.

One pollination strategy is for the orchid flower to resemble the shape or smell of its pollinator.

For each orchid in the new identification chart, a pollinator key is included which shows what insect or process pollinates that particular orchid.

Orchids have tubers under the ground that may put out a leaf one season, a flower the next, or even lay dormant. When they grow in colonies a mixture of leaves and flowering plants can be seen.

Whether it be a delicate orchid or gaudy fungi, there’ll be something to delight the eye this winter in your local reserve or park, or perhaps even at the bottom of your native garden.

Download copies of the fungi and orchid charts from www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges; look for ‘Plants and animals’ under ‘Education’.

Photography: Phil Bridle (PB), David Catcheside (DC), Kathleen Matthews (KM), Anthony Robinson (AR)

This identification chart is a collaborative project between Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges and the Adelaide Fungal Studies Group.

Fungi of the Adelaide HillsFungi play important roles in all ecosystems from our backyards and school grounds to forests, heath and deserts. Many fungi are recyclers, helping break down dead plant and animal material and putting nutrients back into the soil. Many others form essential partnerships with trees and other plants with the fungi collecting nutrients and water from the soil and passing them to roots. In return the plants provide energy-giving sugars. Fungi may be present all year round but are most common in autumn and winter, particularly following rain. It is important that we don’t damage fungi otherwise they can’t continue their important roles.

We know very little about the edibility or toxicity of native fungi. There is no safe way you can tell which ones are safe to eat. DO NOT EAT ANY FUNGUS FROM THE WILD.If you touch a fungus, always wash your hands afterwards.

BASIDIOMYCETES(fungi that produce their spores on club-shaped structures called basidia)

Mycorrhizalhas a symbiotic relationship with a living plant

Saprotrophicbreaks down plant and animal material

Parasitictakes nutrients from a living plant/animal

Known to be poisonous

LIFE MODE

Collared Earth StarGeastrum triplex

PUFFBALLS AND EARTHSTARS Fruit-body usually spherical; spore mass powdery when mature; with small mouth

or pore.

Starts as an onion-shaped ball with a pointed tip. Outer layer splits, peeling back into a star-shape ‘puffball’. If touched, spores will puff through a central hole.

Dye BallPisolithus arhizus

Large rounded fungus looking like horse droppings. When mature, the ‘skin’ breaks down and the powdery spores blow away. It has been used as a dye.

Wood HedgehogHydnum repandum

TOOTH FUNGIFruit-body with teeth, pegs or spines under cap, or a bracket or flat;

stem present or absent.

Cream to light orange-brown cap with brittle spines underneath.

Black ToothPhellodon sp.

Shallow funnel-shaped leathery fungus. Dark grey cap with white edge. Tiny ‘teeth’ under cap with black stem.

Scarlet BracketPycnoporus coccineus

TOUGH PORE FUNGI Fruit-body with pores under cap, bracket or flat with pored surface;

texture rubbery, leathery or woody.

Fan-shaped scarlet fungus. Looks like thick shelves. Was used by Aboriginal groups for its antibacterial properties. Recycles dead logs and branches.

Yellow BrainTremella mesenterica

JELLIES Fruit-body gelatinous, brain- or blob-

shaped, a disc or coral- or club-shaped.

Yellow intestine-like fungus. It is parasitic on another fungus growing on the wood.

Coral FungusRamaria australiana

CLUBS AND CORALS Simple club or branched; texture fleshy;

often brightly coloured.

Looks like coral or cauliflower.

Weeping Bolete INTRODUCEDSuillus granulatus

SOFT PORE FUNGIFruit-body with pores under cap; usually with a central stem; texture fleshy or soft.

Orange-brown to brown-yellow cap. Sponge-like underneath. Stem is pale yellow, often with brown raised dots near the top. Grows under pine trees.

Hairy Curtain CrustStereum hirsutum

SMOOTH OR WRINKLED FUNGI Fruit-body with smooth or wrinkled surface under cap or bracket; stem present (rarely)

or absent.

Yellow to orange shelf-like fungus, hairy on top, wavy edges and a leathery feel. A wood rotter.

Bird’s NestCyathus olla

BIRDS’ NEST FUNGIFruit-body small, cup-shaped with tiny

‘eggs’; often on wood or litter.

Grey to greyish-yellow. The ‘eggs’, which contain spores, are hurled from the ‘nest’ when hit by raindrops.

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

A shelf-like, variably coloured, often striped fungus. Grows on dead logs, branches, wooden fence posts.

Licensed under Creative CommonsAttribution 3.0 Australia Licensewww.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au

Copyright Owner: Crown in right of the State of South Australia 2013

DC DC DC AR KM DC

PB DC PB AR DC

EARTHBALLS Fruit-body usually spherical; spore mass

powdery when mature; upper surface breaks down or splits open irregularly.

Hidden winter treasures

DF

JT

Winter Gnat Orchid Cyrtostylis robusta

Grows to 25 cm. One to two reddish flowers with a distinctive rectangular-shaped labellum. Dull green leaves are round and flat like a plate, green underneath. Grows in colonies. The flower is similar to the spring-flowering C.reniformis which has a heavily veined blue-green leaf.

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Common names used as per South Australia’s Native Orchids DVD (2011) by the Native Orchid Society of South Australia Inc. Botanical names used are those accepted by the SA Herbarium. Where there are two botanical names listed, the brackets indicate the names used as per the DVD. Names are subject to change and may vary in field/electronic guides as a result. For more information on taxonomic names, refer to the Census of South Australian Vascular Plants (www.environment.sa.gov.au/Knowledge_Bank/Information_data/Census_of_SA_plants_algae_fungi).The calendar for each species represents the times when it can normally be found in flower in the Adelaide Hills.

Common native orchids of the Adelaide HillsNative orchids are a very important part of our environment and there are over 250 described species in South Australia. They are delicate and have a special role in ecosystems. Much like frogs can tell us if water is healthy, orchids can tell us if an area of native vegetation is healthy. Some are very rare and often rely on a single insect for their survival (as they need them for pollination to produce seed). Orchids come in all shapes and sizes with some looking like spiders and even donkeys. When walking, we need to be careful not to step on orchids; being small they can be hard to see but this identification chart will help you recognise and protect them.

Round or heart-shaped leaf, flat on ground

Leafy stem or a rosette (cluster) without flowers

Single uprightgrass-like leaf

Wide flat leaf growing at an angle from the ground

Tubular leaf like a chive or onion

Rosette (cluster) of leaves spreading from a central point on the ground

Two or more upright grass-like leaves

A flower stalk with no leaf

Leaf type

Native bee

Self-pollinated

Native wasp Fungus Gnat (type of tiny fly, mosquito-like)Native fly

Ant Unknown?

Pollinator

JT

RWL

Parson’s Bands Eriochilus cucullatus (Eriochilus sp. Hills Woodland)

Grows to 20 cm. Usually one flower, sometimes two to three, with two white sepals pointing downwards. Leaf is green to black, covered in rough short hairs, and appearing after the flower has finished.


JT

RWL

Mosquito Orchid Acianthus pusillus

Grows to 15 cm. Several tiny dark red or maroon flowers in the shape of large mosquitoes. Pale green heart-shaped leaf, maroon underneath. Grows in colonies.


JT

RWL

Blood GreenhoodPterostylis sanguinea (Urochilus sanguineus)

Grows to 40 cm. One to several green to maroon and white striped hooded flowers. Labellum (tongue) readily flicks up. Green leaves grow either flat on ground in rosette with no flower stem; or no rosette but orange tipped leaves on flower stem.


JT

HL

Large Shell OrchidPterostylis robusta (Diplodium robustum)

Grows to 20 cm. Large green and white-striped hooded flower with long curved antennae-like petals. Green leaves grow either flat on ground in rosette with no flower stem; or no rosette but leaves along the flower stem. Grows in colonies.


PB

RWL

Adelaide Hills Banded Greenhood Pterostylis viriosa (Bunochilus viriosus)

Grows to 80 cm. One to several green hooded flowers with faint white stripes (bands) and a sensitive labellum (tongue) that readily flicks up. Leaves grow either as a rosette of green leaves on a stem raised off the ground but no flower stem; or no rosette but green leaves along the flower stem.


JT

JT

Maroon-hoodPterostylis pedunculata

Grows to 30 cm. Hood-shaped flower is maroon, green, brown and white with thin antennae-looking sepals. Green leaves with obvious veins and often with crinkled edges, each leaf usually having a stem. Leaves grow in a cluster. Grows in colonies.


DM

RWL

Veined Helmet Orchid Corybas diemenicus (Corysanthes diemenica)

Grows to 2 cm. Small maroon flower looks like a small helmet or gum nut. Flowers have tiny teeth. Round leaf is green, green underneath and flat like a plate with is a tiny point opposite the stem. Grows in colonies.


MP

RWL

Nodding Greenhood Pterostylis nutans

Grows to 30 cm. Green drooping (or nodding) hood-like flower with faint white stripes. Green leaves have crinkled edges with bumpy veins and grow in clusters. Grows in colonies.


JW

JT

Mayfly Orchid Acianthus caudatus (Nemacianthus caudatus)

Grows to 25 cm. Several reddish flowers with long thin sepals in the shape of Mayfly tails. Green leaf is heart-shaped with crinkled edges, maroon underneath. Grows in colonies.


Grows to 10 cm. Several tiny green and reddish brown flowers pointing downwards. Green leaf is thin and tightly wrapped around stem. Pollinated by a Midge Fly.

RWL

Common Midge Orchid Genoplesium rufum (Corunastylis sp. Adelaide Hills)

JT


KK

Spotted Donkey Orchid Diuris pardina

Grows to 30 cm. One to eight yellow or cream flowers with brown irregular spots with two large distinctive petals shaped like donkey ears that are pale yellow on the front but brown and black on the back. Green leaves are long and thin.


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sustainable goals scored and students are the big winners! · perception of sharks to eliminate...

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