Climate Action Team News

Hello Beaumaris Secondary College! 

We are the Climate Action Team, CAT for short, and we’re here to share the good news about our plans to help our school improve its bioethicality as well as to encourage all of you to care about and take steps to save our environment. Our goals for the Climate Action Team are environment, education, and sustainability. This newsletter is simply one of the many parts of our mission to spread the good word and inform you about how you can help.

Current Projects

As we’re just starting up the Climate Action Team, we don’t have many projects underway, but we have many ideas. Some of the main things on our mind are improving our school’s waste management, making and hanging up animal housing such as bee hotels, bat boxes, and bird houses, and introducing signage around school grounds to educate against littering and feeding the birds. 

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

We know that many of you care about the environment but aren’t quite sure how to get started in helping our world. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered! With every newsletter we make, we plan to share with you an array of opportunities you can use to give back to the environment. Even if you aren’t in it for the planet, you can easily get in it for a fleshed-out resume! For more opportunities, we recommend websites such as https://govolunteer.com.au to find them.

Earthcare St Kilda - Tree Planting and National Tree Day 

On July 28th and August 18th, Earthcare St Kilda is hosting tree-planting events here in Melbourne! For either day, all that’s required is your time and a pair of gardening gloves in order to help them make a difference. You can sign up for these events on their Facebook page, and we strongly suggest taking a look at their other volunteering opportunities to see if you’re able to lend a hand in other ways! 

For more information, please visit: https://earthcarestkilda.org.au

Australian Youth Climate Coalition 

The Australian Youth Climate Coalition is one of the largest youth-run organisations in Australia and their mission is to battle climate change as the people most affected by it. They have many campaigns running currently, and the Naarm/Melbourne group meets regularly on Tuesday evenings and accepts anyone under the age of 30 to come and join them in their efforts! It’s a great organisation making a difference and we encourage anyone interested in joining a climate-centred group to pursue joining them. 

For more information, please visit: https://www.aycc.org.au/melbourne

Zooniverse - Online Volunteering 

Not too keen on having to leave the house to make a difference? Zooniverse is the website for you. The home of people-powered research, Zooniverse is where you can find and help a variety of scientific projects in data sorting and collection. Spend an hour or just ten minutes of your time dedicated to a project of your choice; anything helps these groups to speed up their efforts and get the information they need. While many of these projects are environmentally based, they stretch out to all areas of science, so there’s something for everyone! 

For more information, please visit: https://www.zooniverse.org

Wildlife Victoria - Wildlife Rescue and Care

Interested in something much more hands-on? Wildlife Victoria is an incredibly hands-on volunteering effort that aims to save and rehabilitate Victoria’s wildlife. Whether you go out and respond to calls on the scene or help foster and care for wildlife in need, no part goes to waste. There are plenty of ways to help through Wildlife Victoria, and many ways to learn how to help as well with their share of information on training to aid. 

For more information, please visit: https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/get-involved/volunteer

Marine Ambassadors

The Marine Ambassadors is an ocean-based group led by Mr Seddon, another environmentally conscious group at our school. The Marine Ambassadors take on a variety of projects regarding what’s going on in Bayside’s waters, with current efforts such as crab-counting down at the beaches. This group also goes on a variety of excursions with diving and research in order to do what they can. If you love our oceans and are interested in learning more, please contact Mr Seddon directly. 

Duke of Ed

If you like volunteer work, making new hobbies, camping, hiking, strengthening relationships with your friends, or contributing to your community, then this opportunity is for you! The Duke of Ed is an incredible organisation that aims to guide young students towards appreciating their community and environment. This highly prestigious award system can go to anyone who puts in the effort and is absolutely recommended for anyone looking to push themselves further. Any award level from the Duke of Ed is viewed positively by any employer, with the effort of being able to organise and achieve one is a feat of its own. If anyone aged 14 or older is interested, please contact either Ms Murphy or Ms Zhou.  

Contact Information

More information on these is soon to come, we promise you that, but if you have any immediate questions or ideas for projects, we highly encourage you to join us at our next meeting! 

The Climate Action Team

Dino M, Jack F, Eve D (Year 12 students) and Ms MacGregor