Nurturing nature with the Bellarine Nature Cadets

Twelve local schoolchildren aged between 9 and 13 years were inducted as Bellarine Nature Cadets at Portarlington Neighbourhood House on Wednesday 8 February 2017. The Bellarine Nature Cadets is a joint program between Bellarine Bayside and Portarlington Neighbourhood House and aims at getting kids involved with nature, learning about environmental values and conservation issues in their local region.  

The first exciting session involved using a magnifying glass to look at beach artefacts while learning about the intertidal ecosystem and how plants and animals interact within the intertidal zone. The kids found this extremely interesting and fun and new friendships were made in the process. Interactive games were also featured in this first session, with future sessions to include activities such as snorkelling and bushwalking.

Bellarine Bayside’s Coastal Projects Officer Jane Shearer said, “It’s great to see so many young people interested in caring for and learning about their local environment, making friends and getting involved.”

The program runs over six weeks and has been extremely popular. If your child is interested in the next Bellarine Nature Cadets program, please contact Jane Shearer at janes@bellarinebayside.com.au or on 5254 4010.