News and views from the schools taking part in Roots & Shoots: Mission Possible

Highland & Island Facilitator Group
Parts 1-3
Part 1 – People, Animals and the Environment at Home
We were very excited at the prospect of undertaking this project as earlier research had already alerted us to the fact that there were an amazing amount of similarities between our environment and that of the Gombe National Reserve.

Obviously there are considerable differences with regards to the temperature, and the type of vegetation and animal species within each environment, but in spite of this there was an awful lot that the children recognised as familiar.

We live within sight of the hills surrounding Loch Ness which at over 20 miles long, a mile wide and 700 feet deep is one of …

Read all of Jane’s Lost Diaries: Part 1 – Mission Update!!

Tonnau Primary in Neath joined Roots & Shoots: Mission Possible today.

You can see where Tonnau Primary is on a map and read about their local environment here.

We held our World Environment Day on Tuesday 8 June 2010.  We had over 350 visitors from primary and secondary schools as well as members of the public.  We had a marquee where exhibitors displayed their environmental projects and activities.  In the afternoon, working with ICC (International Climate Challenge) we had a Young People’s Action on Climate Change workshop specifically for secondary schools, to explore:

The global dimensions to climate change, meeting the sustainable school’s doorway and making connections between students’ work in the UK, India and Kenya.
How student-led action can really make a difference, with an opportunity to get involved in ICC’s Inspiring Young Change-maker initiative.

…

Read all of Long Eaton School’s World Environment Day – Mission Update!!

Turners Hill School have recently completed a project that they called the “Great Big Energy Saving Project”.

The idea of the project was to consolidate and add to what they had already learnt. The children made a papier-mache thermometer with a world at the base to use as a measure, the target being to be completely carbon neutral.

The children looked at the school and talked about what we already do to help the environment. They surveyed all the school children to see which of our projects they thought made the biggest difference to the environment. By doing this it really brought home to our children how much we do. The list included:
Wind turbines
Solar Panels
Composting
Chickens
Recycling
Planting our own wood
Bugs Hotel Walking …

Read all of The Great Big Energy Challenge

West Derby School in Liverpool, Merseyside joined Roots & Shoots: Mission Possible today.

You can see where West Derby School is on a map and read about their local environment here.

Wrenn School in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire joined Roots & Shoots: Mission Possible today.

You can see where Wrenn School is on a map and read about their local environment here.

St Clements College in Skegness, Lincolnshire joined Roots & Shoots: Mission Possible today.

You can see where St Clements College is on a map and read about their local environment here.

Larkmead School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire joined Roots & Shoots: Mission Possible today.

You can see where Larkmead School is on a map and read about their local environment here.

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Jane Goodall’s work in Gombe we organised our first overnight road trip. Plans were made and then remade, and finally our destination was agreed upon.

We were very lucky to be awarded funding to cover the cost of the journey by the Stratosphere Science Museum in Aberdeen; however, following discussion amongst the agents it was decided that it was an unnecessary expenditure of museum resources and we declined their kind offer.

To ensure an early start the agents gathered the night before our journey and for a while pandemonium reigned with bags, coats and goodness knows what paraphernalia being declared essential travel companions by an extremely excited group of kids who were finally persuaded to trudge …

Read all of A roadtrip to celebrate Gombe 50!

A Community Orchard has been planted in the grounds of St Christopher’s High School.

The school’s Eco-Group were keen to plant the orchard to demonstrate that it is possible to grow your own fruit, even in Accrington, and the project will also highlight that fruit is seasonal. Although the trees are on school land the resulting fruit will be for the community who will benefit from free, locally-grown fruit without the CO2 contributions of transporting imported fruit.

The idea was initiated by the Eco group and helped by The PROSPECTS Foundation which is eager to help communities respond to climate change, and funding was granted by …

Read all of St Christopher’s Fruity Future