ZOO NEWS

Congratulations to Strathpine State School who were recently named winners of Australia Zoo's 2010 Khaki It! School Challenge.

Strathpine State School Teacher, Helen Hamill, heard about the challenge through an education workshop at Australia Zoo and was instrumental in demonstrating the school's achievements.

Sustainability and green thinking flowed through many projects at Strathpine school, immersing students in environmental activity. Students got down and dirty at the local creek and analysed the health of the waterway; they surveyed the local wildlife and plants, identifying and eradicating pest species and they took on-board the latest sustainability in schools practises with worm-farms, water tanks and outdoor learning areas.

The attitude towards sustainability also spilled into art projects, open days and fundraising activities. Students collected discarded mobile phones for Australia Zoo's Answer the Call campaign, which raises much needed funds for gorilla conservation.

This breadth of activity was in keeping with the school's mission: "To adopt a holistic approach in order to embed environmental and conservation awareness and action into the everyday culture of the school and its wider community". It was this everyday culture approach that impressed the judges of the Khaki It! School Challenge.

Congratulations to Helen and all the students at Strathpine State School. You're all Wildlife Warriors!