More than 5000 youngsters from about 200 North East primary schools have taken part in day-long activities organised by the School Environment Education Directory (SEED).

The next Student Environment Day on Thursday at McNamara Reserve, Myrtleford will involve 193 students from Falls Creek, Dederang, Bright, Porepunkah and the host town.

Caring for waterways, reducing waste, biodiversity, Aboriginal art with artist David Dunn and sustainable living will all be explored in a series of workshops.

SEED project officer Linda Anania said the directory began nearly a decade ago at the request of regional schools.

“They wanted a one-stop shop, I suppose, for who to contact, what’s available  in the local area, what resources there are, what places there are to visit in the environmental field,” she said.

The Student Environment Days held since have become more and more popular.

“They book up pretty quickly and at times we have a bit of a waiting list as well,” Mrs Anania said.

“The Wangaratta one’s not until October and that was booked up ages ago.”

The program is aimed mostly at grade five students.

“We just feel that’s a really good target group because they’re old enough to understand and they’re really good at passing this on to family and community and that sort of thing,” she said.

“They always have a great day, we make the activities as hands-on as possible; at that age that’s the best way to learn.”

Bright P-12 College grade 5/6 teacher Breanna Rouse said her school had also taken part in a SEED program at Bright some years ago.

“We would like our students to develop their understanding about sustainability and the positive impact they can have on the environment,” she said. “We are hoping the hands-on approach will further assist students’ understandings of their local and wider environment.

“Provide the students with a variety of experiences that will broaden their understanding of sustainability.”

Alpine Shire Council, North East Catchment Management Authority and North East Waste and Resource Recovery Group are supporting the day.

Landcare, the State Emergency Service, North East Water, Goulburn Valley Water and Petaurus Education will also be represented.

Mrs Anania said the environmental program fitted in well with the school curriculum.

“You can do so much literacy and numeracy around this theme as well,” she said.

The Myrtleford Student Environment Day will be held between 10am and 2pm.