A local primary school is teaching its students about how their actions can have an impact on the health of lakes, rivers and the ocean - and the programme behind it is available to all schools.

Wanaka Primary School teacher Markus Hermanns said the school had a number of environmental programmes underway to help students understand their role in looking after the planet, and the ‘Nestlé for Healthier Kids Sea Cleaners’ programme had been a welcome addition. 

“This programme provides another opportunity for us to protect our lake and the creatures that live in it, as it ticks all the boxes and gets my students excited about the actions they can individually and collectively take to help protect our lake and planet,” Markus said. 

It includes lesson content developed by company School Kit that branches multiple streams of the school curriculum including science, social science and the arts, and provides a variety of resources to help students to categorise and analyse rubbish correctly. 

Created in collaboration with Kiwi non-profit organisation Sea Cleaners, it also provides information and kits to conduct local clean-ups to demonstrate to students the real-world difference each student’s actions can have on the natural environment.  

Wanaka Primary School teacher Markus Hermanns said it was important for the students to help be part of the solution to some of today’s key issues. PHOTO: Wanaka App

“It is important for our students to become involved in part of the solution to some of the key issues facing the world today, not just learning about them,” Markus said. 

“We are planning our dedicated clean-up activity to take place in the middle of this term, with around 25 students eagerly getting involved." 

Sea Cleaners CEO Hayden Smith said it was the second year the programme had been run, continuing on the back of its success in 2019. Twelve Otago schools had signed up for the programme so far this year.

“By motivating the next generation into conservation action, we are engaging and educating young people on an important issue, which will allow us to collectively work to preserve New Zealand’s waterways for the benefit of the marine life and enjoyment of all users - for generations to come,” Hayden said.

Schools can still participate in the programme (although they can no longer receive the clean-up kits) with free downloadable resources available here.