New Koala Education Kits, a proud initiative of Kempsey Shire Council's environment team in collaboration with Koala Conservation Australia, were launched at Kempsey Library's Koala Cottage during Book Week. The event was a celebration of koala conservation and education, welcoming students from Little Adventures Early Learning Centre and St Joseph's Primary School to participate in the special occasion.
The launch featured engaging presentations and a storybook reading by Margaret and Roz from Koala Conservation Australia, who shared their expertise on koala conservation efforts. The students were captivated by the talk, learning about the challenges koalas face in the wild and the efforts to protect their habitats. Following the educational session, students enjoyed some hands-on fun by creating their own koala badges and were treated to morning tea.
As a token of appreciation, each student received a koala-themed goodie bag filled with treasures to take home. These memorable gifts helped reinforce the important message of koala conservation, leaving a lasting impression on the young participants.
The Koala Kits are now available for schools to borrow through Kempsey Libraries. Each of the four interactive kits—named after koalas at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital (Jaz, Jan, Casper, and Baz)—includes a koala mascot, an adventure book, koala-themed storybooks, and a teacher's resource kit.
Designed to accommodate up to 30 students, the kits offer educational activities and worksheets that cater to various learning stages. The Koala Kits encourage classes to embark on an adventure with their koala mascot and document their learning journey in a shared journal. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the declining koala population and promote the protection of their habitats.
