Wild Over Wetlands

Newcastle Herald

Thursday September 15, 2005

By JACOB COOPER, AMLTA TAVITA and KARTIKA PUTRA

LEARNING about wetland habitats has never been so much fun.

As students in years 3 to 6 at Waratah West have discovered, the internet-based research competition Wet 'n' Wild challenges and excites them.

And with good cause. Not only have they become fully involved in learning about the environment they live in, they have also won a place in the past four competitions.

"It is all about learning and encouraging children to find out," the school parliament's Minister for Civics and Citizenship, Jacob Cooper, said.

The competition is run twice a year by the Wetlands Environmental Education Centre at Shortland.

Students are given a list of 24 clues each week, and have to research four wetland creatures or aspects.

The school's environment teacher, Mr Myers, said children were motivated because they had done environmental work of their own, reclaiming and replanting a creek that runs through the school.