Nature in Cities

Cooling the Schools Sydney

We are working with students and teachers to add thousands of native trees and plants to schoolyards, creating cooler, greener, more inviting spaces for learning and play. As they plant, students learn firsthand about the environmental and cultural benefits of planting native trees for First Nations cultures, urban cooling and biodiversity.

Sydney schools are invited to register their interest in participating in Cooling the Schools by completing this form.

Register your interest

Greening Australia’s Cooling the Schools initiative works with schools to connect children with nature through free planting sessions, that also empower them to create wildlife habitat, reduce urban heat and increase tree canopy cover in their schools.

Led by restoration ecologists and co-delivered with Aboriginal cultural education provider Deadly Ed, students can get their hands dirty while learning about both the environmental and cultural value of native plant species.

What do participating schools receive?

What is required of participating schools?

Testimonials

Glenmore Park

“Students were really interested and a bit surprised at the importance of what they were participating in. We will definitely continue to use the new habitat for teaching activities. We are hoping to incorporate monitoring of the areas in horticulture studies with the seniors.”

Riverwood

“Both staff and students commented on how much they enjoyed the experience and how much they had learnt. They are very caring of the areas they planted. Thank you for the experience, I think the work on that day will be a legacy for our school.”

Blacktown

“It was both educational and an engaging activity which our students really enjoyed. Our students are looking forward to visiting the garden every week to check the growth of their plants.”

Hornsby

“The project improved students’ understanding of the importance of tree planting to cool down cities. It also allowed students to appreciate the difference that one student and one action (one plant) can make to the environment and greater good of a larger group of people/community.”

Ambarvale

“The whole day was great from start to finish. The way your team conducted themselves and spoke to the students was amazing. I even had a couple students come and ask me yesterday if they can help water the plants.”

Join in the fun! Register your school's interest here

Cooling the Schools is being delivered by Greening Australia’s Nature in Cities team as part of the NSW Government’s Greening our City program, which aims to increase Greater Sydney’s canopy cover to 40 per cent by 2036.

For more information, please feel free to send us an online query.

Project Leads

Nicola Masters

Senior Program Officer

Nicola brings a wealth of experience to her role leading Greening Australia’s Cooling the Schools program. Most recently she has honed her skills in designing, implementing and evaluating community engagement and curriculum-linked education programs with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Nicola also brings a background in Australian forestry and has spent time in land and contract management, community engagement and conservation as an Area Manager for the Parks & Countryside Service of Ealing Council in London.

Chris Macris

Manager - Operations

As Manager – Operations for Greening Australia’s work programs in NSW and ACT, Chris manages an elite team of conservation and restoration professionals who are working hard to deliver nature-based solutions for urban and rural landscapes and to maximise the benefits of restoration for both people and nature.

Dr Michelle Frankel

Manager - First Nations Partnerships and Social Impact

Dr Michelle Frankel is Greening Australia’s Manager – First Nations Partnerships and Social Impact. She holds a PhD in behavioural ecology and was formerly the director of a nature education centre with the National Audubon Society, the leading bird conservation organisation in the US. Michelle has been leading urban and community-based conservation and environmental education initiatives for the past 20 years in the US, Israel and now Australia.

Michael Vyse

Associate Director - Biodiversity

As Associate Director – Biodiversity, Michael works at the interface of all our teams to translate good ideas into fundable Nature-Based Solutions that are impact led and can be practically delivered.

Learn more.

Partners

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