BLAKE Inspire is an environmental education and leadership development programme in Auckland that brings together students from all over Aotearoa keen to develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues. Below is Y11 student Emilia Ball’s account of her experience.
I was accepted into the Blake Inspire programme for young environmental leaders in the July holidays. The programme took place in the second week of the holidays in the Waikato region. The topics we covered during the week included agriculture, sustainability, marine and freshwater science, and environmental policy.
It was an incredible opportunity to meet so many passionate and like-minded people who are dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment. The staff from Blake New Zealand and the Ministry for the Environment were very knowledgeable and supportive, and the guest speakers we had the privilege of learning from came from a range of professional backgrounds.
Throughout the week, we engaged in hands-on activities and collaborative projects with scientists, farmers, and other professionals in the sustainable sector. This ensured we were thoroughly informed about the latest practices and innovations relating to our environment. We explored sustainable agricultural practices, learnt a lot about the complexities of marine and freshwater ecosystems, and discussed the importance of environmental policies to drive change. We visited farms implementing cutting-edge sustainable techniques, participated in water quality testing in local rivers, and had the chance to test rivers for macroinvertebrates with NIWA. A particularly memorable experience was testing water quality and dissolved oxygen in a local river. These activities provided a hands-on understanding of the health of our waterways and the vital role they play in our ecosystems.
The Blake Inspire programme was an unforgettable experience. It was inspiring to connect with other young people who share the same commitment to sustainability and to learn from experts who are making a real difference in the field.
By Emelia Ball