Program Structure
The Weed Warriors program consists of:
- An initial classroom session
This session, usually of one hours duration, is aimed at increasing the student's knowledge of weed related issues, linked both to their local community and a wider context and are introduced to biological control and the basic concepts behind it. Students are then taught the skills needed to breed the biological control agent for the chosen target weed.
- The breeding phase of the program
For a period of between four to six weeks the students become responsible for the breeding of the biological control agent's and making basic observations about the biological control agent's life cycle and its impact on the chosen target weed. Duties include watering and providing quantities of the weed to act as a food source.
- A field based activity
The field-based activity, usually two hours in duration, centres on the release of the classroom reared biological control agents at a suitable weed infestation localised to the school giving the students a 'real-world' experience.
- Follow up activity
Six to twelve months after their release, the establishment and spread of the biological control agents at the release site is monitored either through active participation by the students in another organised visit to the release site or the Weed Warriors key contact monitors the site and reports findings back to the students in the classroom.
