Hosted by Sydney Water Ambassador Shane Jacobson at Newington Armory in Sydney Olympic Park last week, the Youth Eco Summit is a two-day event which promotes creative problem-solving and active participation from students aged eight to 12 years to secure the future of water and the environment.
With hundreds of children walking through the displays about water conservation, climate change and urban waterways daily, Sydney Water’s goal is to spark change with a new generation and encourage children to talk to their peers and families about content they learn at the Summit.
Sydney Water General Manager of Customer and Stakeholder Engagement, Stuart Wallace said the Youth Eco Summit is a key part in the Sydney Water calendar.
“Sydney Water has many education programs, and the Youth Eco Summit has been designed to inspire and challenge the curious minds of primary school children while creating a fun, hands-on learning environment,” Mr Wallace said.
“The scope of interactive activities and live displays provides an enriching opportunity for students in Years 3 – 6 to become advocates for the value of water and importance of conservation with their peers.
“Sydney Water’s Community Education Team is committed to leading the way in delivering useful and informative sessions like this to children in our operating area,” Mr Wallace said.
On show were Sydney Water’s K9 leak detection dogs and the Wonders of Water Discovery Van, with displays from the Parramatta River Catchment Group and Murama Indigenous Youth group.
Children also conducted experiments to see the impact of climate change on the natural environment and watched the K9 team in action during dynamic live shows, as well as experiencing over 20 workshops and 16 interactive activities.
Sydney Water Ambassador, Shane Jacobson said he is proud to host the Youth Eco Summit for Sydney Water this year.
“It’s a joy to see primary school students engaging in this spectacular approach to environmental education and discovering the importance of water for all living things,” Mr Jacobson said.
“The school visits and workshops I do with Sydney Water are always a fun day out, and you can see the children really absorb information about the urban water cycle and Sydney Water’s plans to secure our water future.”
Sydney Water Manager Community Education and Corporate Social Responsibility, Tracey Willingham said the Community Education Team at Sydney Water is focused on encouraging future generations to think about water and the science behind the infrastructure.
“Our team is always looking at new ways to reach young audiences, and this is such a unique event,” Ms Willingham said.
“We are leading the way with immersive and informative activities for this demographic.”