Watermark   

“Where Science, Art, Language, Technology, Math and civics Collide” is a motto used by Bug Blitz Trust to describe the integrated “holistic” approach to learning that we encourage and support schools to engage in following a Bug Blitz Field Day

A Bug Blitz Field day consists of a range of actives designed to engage students and other participants in exploring biodiversity in local habitats, the issues affecting local habitats and ways we can contribute to creating sustainable environments. A field day is about communities sharing knowledge and contributing to the important task of educating our students about the environment and its biodiversity.

“Bugs” or arthropods represent 90% of the worlds animal species. Insects are the largest group of these species. “Bugs” are the springboard that Bug Blitz Trust uses to launch into studies about the amazing world of biodiversity.

Schools are supported to complete follow-up, holistic themes of studies after a Bug Blitz Field Day back in the classroom. Bug Blitz Trust encourages and supports participants to share their knowledge with the community in creative ways and to participate in positive action projects that may have benefits to the environment.

Bug Blitz Inc. is a project initiative of the Hugh Williamson Foundation and the Edward O Wilson Biodiversity Foundation in association with: Museum Victoria, Narmbool and Central Gippsland Bug Blitz Schools Network.

John Caldow is the Executive Officer of Bug Blitz Trust.

Bug Blitz programs have taken place at:

• The Heyfield Wetlands
• The Heart Morass involving 15 schools from the central Gippsland region in 2009
• RACV Tourism Lodge, Inverloch,

Other Victorian Big Blitz programs have taken place at:

• Narmbool, a 50000 acre pastoral property near Ballarat with a mix of students from city and country schools,
• Royal Botanic Gardens
• Bug Blitz at Caulfeild Grammar School Yarra Junction Campus
• Bug Blitz at the Werribee Open Range Zoo

The Heart Morass Rehabilitation and Restoration Project is administered by the Wetland Environmental Trust (WET), the partners being:

• West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA)
• Field and Game Victoria
• Watermark

With the support and cooperation of WET and its partners, Bug Blitz Trust has used the Heart Morass to stage field education events that engage local students in this wonderful environment and provide opportunities for them to contribute to this major rehabilitation project.

Field days included August 18, 19, and 20th from 10.00 am till 2.15 pm where about 450 students were catered for. Rotations of five activies were completed on each day of about 30 minutes each. These included: tree planting, discovery walks, bug trapping, water testing and a reptile show.

After participating in the Bug Blitz Field Day each student constructed a bird nesting box and 100 of the boxes were installed in the Heart Morass and along Flooding Creek.

As part of Bug Blitz 2009 students from the Central Gippsland Bug Blitz Schools Network learnt about breeding and boxes. Birds and bats were targeted for the tenancy of these boxes. Each box was numbered and labeled with the target species. Fulham Correctional Facility Work Programs made kits for the box construction with materials supplied by ITC Timber Heyfield.

Bug Blitz has resulted in school students installing nest boxes into their local habitat. Recently Cowwarr Primary School and St. Patrick’s Stratford installed the boxes they constructed into their local area. When all boxes are installed the “Big Blitz” kids will have installed 450 boxes across a large area of Wellington Shire