Ipswich Youth Sustainability Summit Inspires the Next Generation of Catchment Champions
In May, EcoMarines proudly partnered with Ipswich City Council and Natura Pacific for the highly anticipated Ipswich Youth Sustainability Summit, a dynamic day of hands-on experience, collaboration, and leadership building.
The summit brought 10 local Ipswich schools together to explore the health of their local catchments and discover how young people can play an active role in protecting waterways and ecosystems for future generations.
A special shoutout to our dedicated EcoMarines Schools, Raceview State School, Redbank Plains State School, Ipswich West State School, and Goodna State School, and six other fantastic schools who joined in championing environmental stewardship throughout the event!
Workshop 1: Playground to Creek
The “Playground to Creek” workshop introduced students to the journey of water through urban environments and the importance of healthy catchments.
- Volume & Velocity
Using sponges to represent riparian vegetation and clay to represent built surfaces, students explored how natural landscapes slow water movement and reduce flooding risks. This hands-on experience quickly became a student favourite, strengthening the message that natural, slow water is safe water.
- Erosion & Sediment
Through interactive modelling activities, students investigated how erosion changes landscapes and how sediment impacts water quality and waterway health.
- Nutrients & Pollutants
A fast-paced matching game challenged teams to identify common pollution sources and discover practical solutions in order to protect waterways both at school and at home.
- Riparian Condition
Students learned to identify native and invasive plant species while exploring the important role riparian vegetation plays in filtering pollutants, stabilising creek banks, and providing habitat for wildlife.
Workshop 2: Natura Pacific Water Bugs Workshop
This workshop, led by the wonderful Natura Pacific, gave students the opportunity to get up close with native water bugs and macroinvertebrates found in local creek ecosystems.
Students discovered how these fascinating species act as helpful bio-indicators for waterway health, helping scientists assess water quality and ecosystem health. The workshop highlighted the importance of informed environmental decision-making and sustainable practices to protect local waterways.
Workshop 3: Catchment Leaders Workshop
In the Catchment Leaders workshop, students stepped into the exciting role of environmental consultants!
Focusing on local waterways, such as the Bremer River and Bundamba Creek, teams identified environmental challenges affecting their catchments, and developed practical, future-focused solutions to improve waterway health and sustainability.
Students then presented their ideas, demonstrating their creativity, teamwork, and a genuine passion for protecting their local environment. This resulted in an abundance of innovative ideas shared around between the students, with many ideas planned to be taken back to school.
Inspiring Youth Leadership and Community Collaboration
The summit also showcased valuable insights and contributions from community leaders and environmental advocates.
Highlights included:
- An engaging address from Mayor Teresa Harding
- A fantastic presentation by Tamielle Brunt of Wildlife Queensland
- Valuable collaborations between local Ipswich schools sharing ideas for a more sustainable future
These presentations helped inspire students to think critically about environmental issues while recognising the important role emerging generations play in shaping sustainable communities.
Capturing the Day at the EcoMarines Photo Booth
One of the biggest highlights of the summit was the EcoMarines Photo Booth!
From group photos to fun snapshots with native animal plushies, students brought incredible enthusiasm and positive energy throughout the day. The photo booth became a celebration of sustainability, connection, and community spirit, allowing students to capture memories from an experience they won’t soon forget.
Celebrating Sustainability
The energy and enthusiasm shown by students throughout the summit was sincerely inspiring and highlighted the growing commitment young people have toward creating a more sustainable future.
EcoMarines would love to send out a huge thanks to the Ipswich City Council for supporting the summit, as well as all participating schools, presenters, and partners who made the event possible.
The Ipswich Youth Sustainability Summit showcased the power of education, collaboration, and youth leadership, proved that the next generation of Catchment Champions are already making a difference!
