Sponsors
Awesome Project Partner
In the lead up to the 8in8in8 project Dr Niall Doran from the Bookend Trust called after hearing an interview on the local radio. He thought Expedition Class could join forces with Bookend to inspire students and the community to build positive and effective environmental careers. After four years of going it alone I thought this sounded like a tremendous idea. Now Expedition Class is one of the diverse range of projects of the Bookend Trust. Together we took out the 2010 Tasmanian Award for Environmental Excellence in Education.
Bookend is funded through the time, energy and donations of private individuals concerned about building a positive and co-operative environmental future for our students and community. We welcome the feedback and comment of anyone prepared to Be involved.
Massive Helpers
The connection with the Australian Geographic Society goes way back to 2003 when they sponsored our north to south traverse of Tasmania. That was in the days before we'd developed an adventure learning model for expeditions but it provided the reassurance that it's okay to have big ideas and no clear plan to fund them! Since then AG has paddled with us from Hobart to Cape York, come on a journey around PNG by sea kayak and ridden, walked and paddled around Australia with the 8in8in8 project. In 2009 they rewarded Expedition Class with the Spirit of Adventure award.
The University of Tasmania Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology is a mouthful, so they shortened it to UTAS SET. Their ongoing support goes back nearly as far as AG. In 2006 our first crack at combining real life adventure with kids in schools was struggling to get noticed when UTAS SET stepped up to the plate. They've been with us ever since. In return we promise to try our best to show students how excellent science is in real life.
Education Department Tasmania, Learning Services South
The Tassie Tiger Hunt has an expertly written curriculum thanks to the team at Learning Services South. Not only did they provide the unit on biodiversity but they printed 1000 copies of the student workbooks and 40 teacher's guides. Their cooperation will benefit more than the students of southern Tasmania with the Tiger Hunt being taken up by classrooms around the world.
Every Tuesday during the school year the Mercury has a learning page. Every now and then they let us sneak in there and push the adventure learning wheelbarrow. In 2009 Expedition Class reached a whole new audience through a weekly Mercury blog live from the 8in8in8 expedition.
There's a lot that we can't tell you about how the website works because we don't understand it. Rebecca at Webmistress made it so we don't have to... phew! The fabulous design work is by Kieran at Workhorse.
School Visit Special Friends
Bill Harvey
Before the expedition heads off on 27th September we'll be popping into as many schools as possible. This is happening thanks to the school visit sponsors such as Hobart City Council Alderman Bill Harvey. A longtime supporter of innovation in education Bill used to take international students on study tours of Tasmania. Bill is sponsoring Campbell St Primary and Moonah Primary. Vote 1 Bill!
In addition to their major sponsor role AG are stumping up for a Sydney school to get a visit from Expedition Class. We'll also be participating in Science in the City while we're up there in August.
Damian Bester
When we went to Derwent Valley councillor Damian Bester and said we'd love to get a school from his neck of the woods involved, he agreed. The Derwent Valley area extends right to the edge of the South West wilderness area so it's great to have Fairview Primary sponsored by Damian.
Part of the resource kits we distribute during school visits includes a map of the South West National Park. Tasmap provided them for nothing (nice one Tasmap!) so we've decided to use the saving to support visits and resource kits to Homes Cool (a home school group) and Miandetta Primary.
The Mercury learning page ran a competition earlier in the year to win a school visit. The kids from Ms Newton's class at St Aloysius College sent in the winning entry. There's nothing better than visiting a class full of adventure loving kids.
Alex Dawia
Alex grew up in Bougainville and works in the justice system in Australia but when he heard we were looking for people and businesses to support Tassie schools he was happy to help. He is passionate about promoting education in his homeland of Papua New Guinea. Alex is sponsoring Rosetta Primary.
Givers of Bits and Bobs