One of our Rapid Bay Primary School families is about to welcome ducklings and has generously offered some to our school. The students are already very excited by the possibility, but before we say yes, we want to make sure we can provide them with a safe, appropriate and lasting home.
Ducks, Dirt & Dinner will transform an underused area beside our kitchen garden into a secure duck enclosure and a genuinely useful outdoor classroom. We want to build a predator-resistant shelter and nesting area; install suitable fencing, feeders, waterers and drainage; and create a practical system for adding used bedding and manure to our compost.
The ducklings would not move to the school until their housing was ready and they were old enough to transition safely. Students would be involved in researching what ducks need, helping to plan and measure the area, developing care routines and designing educational signage. Adults and community volunteers would undertake the construction, while students would participate in safe, age-appropriate ways.
Once established, the ducks, compost and kitchen garden will form one simple living cycle. The compost will help feed the garden, while produce and eventually eggs, when available, can be used in school cooking and our Breakfast Club. Every child will have an opportunity to be involved. The project will support learning in science, mathematics, design and technologies, literacy, sustainability, animal welfare and responsibility. More importantly, it will give our students something real to care for together.
With $1,000, we can responsibly turn a generous family offer into a safe and lasting learning opportunity. Families and community volunteers will contribute time and help with construction, while the school will take responsibility for the ducks’ ongoing feed, bedding, care and maintenance.