Greater Shepparton Secondary College Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) students made the 30 nest boxes for the squirrel gliders as part of their studies.
The boxes will be mounted on trees in areas of Shepparton Regional Park and Lower Goulburn National Park where habitat assessments have been done.
The 40 students from the school’s Wanganui campus also completed 10 red gum seats that were started by past students.
The seats were made from repurposed timber from the school’s Shepparton High campus and will also be placed in the two parks.
They will be installed along shared pathways during the coming months by a variety of organisations and the students, in partnership with Parks Victoria.
Greater Shepparton Secondary College VCAL teacher Danny Lythgo said the projects gave students the perfect opportunity to develop their skills while helping the environment and local community.
“The students have really enjoyed these hands-on projects, which is what the applied learning focus of VCAL is all about,” Mr Lythgo said.
“Students shared their skills to support the team project, ensuring that everyone was involved and working well together.
“Helping to contribute to the survival of squirrel gliders is a cause that has united and motivated the students.
“It's great to see so many students team together to support and care for our local environment.”
Mr Lythgo said another of the good things about the projects was that they were able to use recycled timber for the nest boxes and the seats.
“It’s perfectly useable, and others didn’t want it,” he said of the timber.
Parks Victoria community engagement ranger Emma Banting said it was a privilege to partner with the students on the projects.
“Around Shepparton we have populations of squirrel gliders which are an endangered species in our local area,” Ms Banting said.
“The nest boxes will make great homes to support the gliders.”
Ms Banting said the seats would be valuable.
“The seats will be installed along shared pathways, allowing people using the area to break up their journey and sit and enjoy nature,” she said.
One of the VCAL students involved said she enjoyed the hands-on part of her course and the boxes were fairly easy to make.
Another student, Kade Perry, said he was pleased to be able to help.
“I think the community and the environment will benefit from it,” he said.
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