Mandurah teens return from trip of a lifetime

Thursday, 6 September 2018 15:53

By Taylah Strano

A group of Mandurah high school students have been discussing climate change at world heritage listed sites.

Students from Frederick Irwin Anglican School and Mandurah Baptist College travelled to the United States of America to explore environmental issues thanks to the NatureBridge program, funded by the Alcoa Foundation.

The students visited UNESCO world heritage sites in the United States during the two-week program, exploring environmental issues in Olympic National Park in Washington and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with local high school students.

Frederick Irwin Anglican School student Ben Roots said the Shenandoah trip had not only created a unique experience for him and his fellow students, but also changed his habits at home.

“I’ve become a lot more conservative with what I use and throw away, and how much rubbish I produce. I also have a new interest in the environment and I take every opportunity I can to get out outdoors and learn about what amazing places are out there,” he said.

Mandurah Baptist College student Luke Price said he gained a world of confidence in both his knowledge of environment conservation and day-to-day life.

“The most significant thing I learnt on this expedition was that as a society, we need to be more careful in our actions. Whether in nature or not, our actions have an impact on the environment in some way,” he said.

“The NatureBridge experience has also given me a massive confidence boost. I’m more comfortable in large groups and I find it a lot easier to talk to new people. I’m happier and more motivated than ever.”

A total of 288 scholarships were awarded by the Alcoa Foundation since the inaugural NatureBridge expedition in 2014, 57 of them benefiting students from Western Australia.

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