Clean Up Australia Day for Kids!

Clean Up Australia Day 2019 is almost here! This year, the event is in its thirtieth year, and will be run across three separate days.

Youth and Schools Clean Up Day is Friday 1 March.

Businesses wishing to participate will be doing so on Tuesday 26 February. The Teach Starter team will be walking the streets of Milton in Queensland to help clean up!

Then, on Sunday 3 March, is the official Clean Up Australia Day will take place right across the nation, and communities will become involved.

If you’re ready to get your hands dirty (figuratively, of course – gloves are provided in your packs), here are some ideas on getting your school involved in Clean Up Australia Day 2019.

Organising your Class’ Clean Up Effort

If you haven’t already, head straight to Clean Up Australia Day’s official webpage where you’ll find heaps of downloadable, free resources to assist in your preparation for Clean Up Australia Day.

Check out the 2019 Site Guide pack for info on risk assessment for your school-based site, as well as heaps of free Clean Up Australia Day lesson plans for primary classes.

Register your school and order your pack.  This includes bio bags for collecting rubbish and gloves for teachers/supervisors. If your pack doesn’t arrive in time, you can buy biodegradable garbage bags and biodegradable gloves at Biome (Teach Starter members can access a VIP discount for 10% off orders over $30).

Don’t forget to nominate yourself as the Site Supervisor using this form.

What Your Students Will Need

Leading up to your event, chat with your students about appropriate protective clothing they’ll need to wear. As you’ll likely be going off the footpath, ensure they wear covered, closed shoes. As it’s still Summer, they’ll also need to wear a wide-brimmed hat and plenty of sunscreen. They should also bring water bottles along with them (you could transport these in a plastic clothes basket).

What You’ll Need

Prepare thoroughly by popping together a little kit of Clean Up Australia Day necessities. Here’s a suggested list of items:

• a mobile phone in case of an
  emergency
• tongs and heavy duty gloves to
  remove sharp objects
• first aid kit and instructions
• bins/skips for rubbish and recycling
  (contact your local council or clean up)
• sunscreen and spare hats
• antibacterial hand sanitiser
• a clipboard with extra Volunteer Registration Forms and copies of the Accident and Incident Report
• Risk Warning Poster and tape.

Getting the Community Involved

Looking for volunteers to help with your Clean Up Australia Day event? Why not invite parents, grandparents and community members along? Extra adult hands can be very helpful in assisting kids to collect rubbish and to talk to them about the importance of what the day is all about.

Ask volunteers to arrive fifteen or twenty minutes early for the event so that they can fill out a Volunteer Registration Form. Even if they’re registered online, a paper form must be kept for every volunteer. It’s also a great idea to hold an informal volunteer briefing to outline plans for the day and talk about general house-keeping rules!

Resources to Support Teaching About Our Responsibility to the Environment

We have a whole collection of Clean Up Australia Day Teaching Resources for you to access! Here are my top resources for preparing and reflecting on this great initiative:

• 

  teaching resource

  Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint – Poster

  Display this poster when learning about sustainability.

• 

  teaching resource

  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink and Repair Posters

  A set of 5 posters explaining the concepts behind reducing, reusing, recycling, rethinking and repairing waste.

• 

  teaching resource

  What Can Be Recycled? Poster

  A poster showing the products that can be recycled.

• 

  teaching resource

  Straw No More Information Poster

  This poster contains information about the Straw No More project, encouraging schools to stop using single-use plastic straws.

After Your Event

At the completion of your event, your role of Site Supervisor still requires a few more things!

• Return the Volunteer Registration Forms to Clean Up Australia no later than 1 month after your event has taken place.
• Complete and return the End of Clean Up Report (this helps the organisation to prepare an overall annual Rubbish Report).
• Organise certificates for your volunteers.
• Print and present your school’s certificate!

We hope you enjoy a successful and enjoyable Clean Up Australia Day 2019!