Children get a sporting chance at Ecover Schools Blue Mile
More than 300 school children have been learning about the marine environment at an event, which is aimed at encouraging young people to become actively engaged with our blue environment.
Some 330 children from 11 schools across the south-west took part in the Ecover Schools Blue Mile and enjoyed hands-on activities linking sport and marine conservation over three days on 17-19 June.
During a full day’s learning on Plymouth’s waterfront, each school took part in four interactive sessions including kayaking, beach conservation, a Plastics Lab designed by Plymouth University and a mini tour of the National Marine Aquarium.
For many of the Year 6 and Year 7 children, this was the first time they had ever been in a kayak – and it proved a big winner! The youngsters were given a lesson from Plymouth’s Mountbatten Centre before heading out onto the water to paddle around a short course.
BBC Springwatch presenter Maya Plass and MCS Sea Champion, Alex Milden from charity partner the Marine Conservation Society gave the youngsters a hands-on lesson on seashore creatures in a waterfront ‘classroom’ – a marquee set up on the Barbican.
The highlight for many was the new interactive Plastics Lab, designed by Professor Richard Thompson from Plymouth University. Children took part in an experiment to see if ‘traffic light’ labelling on packaging made any difference to their purchasing habits with many of them saying they would like to see the system introduced.
Among the schools taking part was Ford Primary School from Plymouth. Head teacher Jonathan Thomas said: “The children had a great time and came back to school with lots of enthusiasm from the day.”
And Stoke Damerel Community College teacher Dan Cole added: "Our students were able to learn about our local marine environment and look at conservation projects and how we can support them.”
The Ecover Schools Blue Mile is an annual event and is generously sponsored by Ecover and Plymouth University with support from the National Marine Aquarium, Fatyak Kayaks and the Mount Batten Centre.
“The whole three days have been such a fantastic success,” said Conrad Humphreys, Director of Sport Environment.
“The aim of the Ecover Schools Blue Mile is to encourage young people to connect with our seas and marine wildlife and also to have fun on the water. Huge thanks to Ecover and Plymouth University for their support and the student ambassadors who were brilliant.”
