Included in the outdoor opportunities on offer, will be the chance to sleep overnight at Elizabeth Castle, study wildlife around St Ouen’s Pond, go abseiling or kayaking, visit Crabbé adventure centre, or tour a Jersey royal farm.
As part of the event, schools will be able to compete for £4,500-worth of prizes for organising the most innovative environmental campaigns either in their own grounds or within the community.
It will be the biggest mobilisation of schoolchildren to ever take place in Jersey at one time in the name of environmental education.
Co-ordinated by a panel led by Le Rocquier deputy head John McGuinness, the event has been funded by Education Sport and Culture, the Ecology Fund and sponsors Deutsche Bank, Newtel and Connex.
The comprehensive programme of events being drawn up have the support of the National Trust for Jersey, Jersey Heritage Trust, Environmental Department and Jersey Arts Centre.
Mr McGuinness, a former science adviser for Portsmouth Education Authority, said every head teacher would receive an information pack and film about Environment Week with details about how to apply for funding before the 8 March deadline.
A sum of £12,000 has been made available from Education and the Ecology Fund to give as grants to schools for resources for their projects and support for school visits.
From the programme, teachers can book outings from a range of visits, including those focusing on waste management, energy and water at Bellozanne incinerator and car crusher, Jersey Water treatment plant at Handois reservoir, Jersey Electricity generator and La Collette dump, reclamation and landfill site.
Mr McGuinness said a lot of good environmental work was already going on in schools.
‘Environment Week will complement what is already being done and inspire young people to go on to be the future guardians of this unique and beautiful Island,’ he said.
The main aims of the organisers, are to involve 75 per cent of schoolchildren in visits to sites of ecological interest and for every school to examine energy and water conservation in their environment.
Schools will also be encouraged to set up a productive link with an environmental group, as well as stage an exhibition of their work and achievements during the week for their parents to see and enjoy.
The school information pack includes many ideas for projects as well as a list of some of the Island’s ecologists including Mike Stentiford and Mike Freeman and wildlife photographer Sue Daly, who will be available to talk to students.
Mr McGuinness emphasised it was very important that schools made applications for funds within the deadline as well as booking the coaches and visits of their choice to avoid disappointment.
Education Minister Mike Vibert said the responsibility for looking after the Island’s environment rested with the whole community and its future with its young people.
‘This superb initiative is for young people to get involved in a meaningful way in their own environment,’ he said.
Information about Environment Week is available on www.jerseyenvironmentweek.je
