Yates and Landcare Australia had partnered to create and deliver a range of innovative Junior Landcare programs.
This partnership has successfully engaged children across Australia in fun and educational activities that have allowed them to learn about gardening, sustainability and their local environment. It has enabled the participation of thousands of children, families and schools and has been received with a great deal of enthusiasm. In 2017, the Yates Junior Landcare 'Grants for Gardens' program invited schools across Australia to undertake a range of on-ground projects with their students and the local community.
Twenty-five schools received a grant with a value up to $2,000. In total, the program delivered 4 bush tucker gardens, 9 native gardens, 16 vegetable gardens, 12 sensory gardens and 16 green waste and composting systems. Here are some highlights from our partnership:
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Over 2,770 students engaged in Junior Landcare activities.
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Nine outdoor classrooms created.
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100% of grant recipients reported positive educational outcomes.
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100% of grant recipients reported interest from students throughout the development of their project.
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Over 80% of projects created bush tucker gardens and veggie gardens.
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More than 2,600 students learned how to plant and harvest their own fresh produce.
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Numerous grant recipients implemented healthy cooking lessons for students.
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Over 65% of grant recipients reported active participation of students in maintenance activities.
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Over 90% of grant recipients reported increased awareness of sustainability issues among students involved.
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Four new Gardening Clubs were created.
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Facebook campaign reached 176,187 people.
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78 items recorded through local media outlets, reaching 1.1 million people.
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'Grants for Gardens' program promoted across Landcare Australia's network* - including 13,000 Junior Landcare audience, 100,000+ Garden Club members.
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Over 60% of grant recipients reported participation of the local community and integration with the wider school community.
We're incredibly proud of our partnership, launched in 2005. We've worked on many initiatives and expanded from including the Landcare Australia logo on Yates Natures Ways for a percentage of the profits to implementing Junior Landcare Grants and Challenges.
Over the last 12 years, the Yates and Landcare Partnership contributed over $357,500 supporting more than 128,000 children across Australia. And for us that is pretty impressive!