Tertiary Environmental Education Series

Invited by the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Education, our Founder and Education Director Dr. Xoni Ma, as well as Founder and Creative Director Ms. Janice Lo, shared with tertiary students who enrolled in the course “EDUC7183 Experiential Learning in School-based Contexts” about the related concepts of environmental education. Besides, through the board game “Law of the Forest” interactive session, the tertiary students understood how to teach ecology concepts through game designs.

In May 2024, we guided 15 tertiary students to travel to Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve, exploring the local ecology. It could enhance tertiary students’ understanding of local forest, as well as the flora and fauna. Under the explanations of our instructors, they learned about native wild plant species like Ivy Tree and Chinese Sweet Gum. On the other hand, they observed various butterflies and birds, sensing the biodiversity of local ecology profoundly.

We organized a Forest Ecology Activity Day and a Free Ocean Day for the Student Affairs Office of the Education University of Hong Kong. It enhanced students’ understanding of local ecology and environmental education, and prepare them with inspirations to design on-campus activities for primary school students.

Invited by Science Unit of Lingnan University, during 2023-2025, we held several forest ecology field trips. We led the university students to visit Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve and Aberdeen Country Park. Students learned about local forest ecology, and realized the importance of nature to human.

In 2022-2023, we organized 3 night-safari trips for the Wildlife & Animal Caring Society from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Leading the university students to observe local nocturnal animals, together, we discovered the mysterious side of fireflies, amphibians and reptiles.

Since 2017, invited by the New College, HKU, OWLHK started to design, organize and lead Nature Appreciation Programme for students to promote Hong Kong biodiversity and raising environmental attitude.

This programme coupled with NSS Biology curriculum, invited tertiary students to join and be trained to be activity tutor. From classroom to rural area, students learnt about urban ecology with ants as example. Utilizing the process of scientific investigation, including designing experiments, using tools to observe nature and discussing experimental data in groups, their understanding on urban biodiversity and related conservation issues was deepen.

Led by professional wildlife photographers, participants learnt about Hong Kong’s ecology and then tried outdoor photography. With professional demonstration on wildlife photography skills and guidance on how to apply what they have learnt, we encouraged tertiary students to use their talents to document wildlife in Hong Kong and add this element in arts.

Since 2019, OWLHK became the service provide for AFCD’s Ting Kok+ Ambassador, each year a total of 30 students joined this programme that includes lectures and field studies, to learn about coastal ecology, biodiversity and conservation around Tolo, and also soft skills such as interpretation and environmental education methods and technique. After the completion of trainings, being the Ting Kok+ Ambassador, they need to patrol coastal sites around Ting Kok.

A total of forty students joined this intense and all-rounded training that led by local experts, to understand the application of forest functions and daily life, ecology and biodiversity, vegetation composition and transition, challenges of forest conservation, and learning how to lead secondary school teams to complete their environmental education project.

Many people feel like there is no way to begin with learning plant identification due to the high diversity of plants in Hong Kong. In order to let tertiary students learn more about local plants, we organized Intergeneration Lantau Eco-classroom in Lantau in “ECF Exploring WILD Lantau” for 40 students. Coupling indoor lectures with outdoor field trips, they learnt about plant ecology and ecology of Lantau through professional trainings.

Every time summer comes, we seize the opportunity to observe amphibians and reptiles. In order to let tertiary students learn more about local amphibians and reptile, we brought 40 students to wetlands in Lantau in “ECF Exploring WILD Lantau” for night-time field trips. Together with indoor lectures, they learnt about ecology of Lantau and were trained to be eco-tutors.

With interactive and outdoor learning as guiding principles, we collaborated with local freshwater ecology experts to organized a tutor training for 20 tertiary students. We brought them to streams in Lantau for field trips and ecological surveys, which they learnt about freshwater ecology and biodiversity. Coupled with indoor lectures, they were trained to be tutors who would be guiding citizen science surveys, practicing what they have learnt.

To promote the diversification and popularization of environmental education, we provided ecology and board game training for 60 tertiary students (including students studying majors not related to ecology like nursing and arts). Participants acquired knowledge out of their specialty and learnt about Hong Kong’s biodiversity. Through guiding field trips for secondary school students, participants practiced what they have learnt by teaching others.

Through workshops, field trips, experts-matching and board game design, we trained tertiary students to take the initiative to learn about local ecology and further study disciplines they are interested in. Subsequently, we empowered them to design board games which use biodiversity of Hong Kong as theme, as well as to lead the environmental education activity with their products.

ECF Free Ocean Action Plan gives training to local tertiary students about the ocean and coastal ecology, marine debris, as well as environmental education skills and techniques. Students will then be the tutors of “Free Ocean Day” for community and students, to expand the influence up to the public level, and to raise the public awareness towards waste reduction at source and ocean conservation.