The Eco Warriors conference had been running for around six years in Townsville but this was the first time the group had visited Mount Isa.

Eco Warriors coordinator, Michelle Jones, said the idea behind the conference was to teach primary aged students about sustainability of the environment.

“The children know that creation is important and it’s God’s creation, so we come together to learn to care for that creation,” Ms Jones said.

“Every activity is a hands on activity, therefore they are doing something. They then learn that the little changes they make in their lives will make a very big difference.”

Eco Warriors workshop included talking about the impacts of plastic and how it was a danger to wildlife. Children constructed a jelly fish from plastic bags, newspaper and wool to demonstrate an easy way to recycle.

CSIRO conducted programs on climate change and global warming.

“Children explored activities to do with carbon dioxide, where it comes from, what effects it has on the environment and actions that can be taken to reduce it,” Ms Jones said. 

“I feel like we underestimate students capacity to take things on board. Because these workshops are so hands on, they realise they are not alone and not the only ones who care about the environment.

“The children were thrilled that they got to participate in practical science activities.”

Other spokespersons included a representative from Glencore who spoke about the environmental sustainability of the mines and how they help that area recover from their operations. 

A wildlife carer attended the conference to talk about baby animals that had been left motherless and the reasons to why it happened and Mount Isa City council also visited the children to discuss waste management.

Eco Warriors and CSIRO hope to return to Mount Isa next year to help convey the same messages through another conference.