Schools vie for top title

Rotorua Boys High School competing in the Enviro Challenge.

This year's Enviro Challenge's Challenge Day is being hosted next Tuesday by 2015 winners John Paul College.

Other schools competing for the title this year are Mt Maunganui College, Tauranga Girls College, Katikati College and Whakatane High School.

The challenge is a unique, fun and interactive education for sustainability programme designed to develop sustainability and leadership skills in high school students.

The programme's Challenge Day is accompanied by an ongoing mentoring component throughout the year to provide help to schools ensuring progression towards the sustainability outcomes the students set for their schools as part of the programme.

The Bay of Plenty programme is supported by Enviro State, Sustainability Options, Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

This year has seen the introduction of a community focused submission from the students destined for their relevant council, as well as participation in the Enspire Video Challenge, a five-minute youth leadership challenge.

Students are also asked to develop a project for their school with measurable outcomes, and encouraged to think long term.