Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz

Our young people are our future – and we must work with them to shape the world they will inherit from us. It is never too early to start. A very good example was reported to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council this week.

Enviroschools is a nationwide programme that supports schools to work with students to develop a sustainable community. In the Bay of Plenty, the regional council is the primary sponsor of Enviroschools, with support from Tauranga City Council.

In 2005, the Tauranga Region Kindergarten Association pushed to expand the Enviroschools programme into early childhood education. And, demand for the programme in the early childhood sector has grown. Its delivery has now transitioned from a council led- programme to a teacher-led programme, working across 20 kindergartens, with council staff providing regional coordination rather than a delivery role. Parental involvement in the programme is encouraged.

To see what the community thinks about the impact of the Enviroschools programme on families, a survey was taken in 2012. More than 100 Bay families (or 83 per cent of surveyed parents from 14 Enviroschools kindergartens) reported their children had told their families about the environmental learning at kindergarten, such as conserving energy and water; and reducing waste.

Families said that they actively try to live in more sustainable ways, by consciously reducing car use (61 per cent), minimising waste (100 per cent), making changes to reduce energy use (88 per cent) and growing their own food (85 per cent). And – 97 per cent of families were supportive or very supportive of the Enviroschools programme.

This is a very good example of the partnership approach that the regional council tries to use. And, by working with our youth, we are developing keen advocates for the environment who will care for our world as they grow.

If you have views on this or any other issue, you can email me at: neesj@xtra.co.nz or ring me on 07 579 5150. Or you can check out my website at: www.janenees.co.nz