Students were inspired to take action after attending the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Taiohi-Taiao Youth Jam environmental youth conference in May this year.

They were among 61 secondary students from nine Bay of Plenty schools in attendance to explore what freshwater means to them.

Otumoetai College students, with teacher Andrea Crawford, helping to replant the Sherwood Gully. Photo: Supplied.

'Otumoetai College students spoke about their desire to restore the Sherwood Gully next to their school at the Taiohi-Taiao Youth Jam,” says Bay of Plenty Regional Council youth jam coordinator Janie Stevenson.

'They helped motivate other local secondary schools to take action to protect their local environments and waterways.

'We look forward to seeing similar projects underway soon at Tauranga Girls' College and Papamoa College.”

Papamoa College students have been testing water quality at three sites along the Kaituna River and helping regional council staff with riparian planting.

The students' next goal is to start planting alongside the storm water drains near their school, which lead into Wairakei Stream.

Tauranga Girls' College students are also working on a restoration plan for part of the gully next to their school, near Fraser Cove. Students have already created a volunteer roster to plant and care for native trees this winter.

Janie says the aim of Youth Jam is to foster environmental awareness, youth leadership and participation.

'This year the theme was ‘Freshwater from Source to Sea',” she explains.

'We're delighted that students have turned their experiences at Youth Jam into action in their local community.”

During the two-day Youth Jam, students stayed at Aongatete Lodge in the Kaimai foothills.

They used the Tauranga Harbour catchment as a case study to learn about freshwater management by investigating current trends in water quality and quantity, and going on field trips in the catchment.

They also listened to a range of perspectives from people who live and work in the catchment.

Otumoetai College has received support from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Environmental Enhancement Fund to carry out their project.

Taiohi-Taiao Youth Jam is a free annual event delivered by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Next year's event is already being planned to focus on geothermal resources. It will be held in Rotorua and is open to all Bay of Plenty secondary schools. Visit: www.boprc.govt.nz/youthjam for more information.