Enviro Challenge's challenge day for 2016 will, inspiring schools to develop sustainability and leadership skills, with the challenge starting next week.

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

Enviro Challenge 2015 winners John Paul College.

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

Enviro Challenge is delivered yearly in Waikato, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau, and Sustainability Options development manager Jo Wills says 32 school usually participate.

Sustainability Options are facilitators of the Enviro Challenge programme and mentors to the students.

This years' Enviro Challenge's challenge day is being hosted by 2015 winners John Paul College from Rotorua on Tuesday 12^th April and is sponsored by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The programme hosts the challenge day as well as ongoing mentoring throughout the year to provide assistance to schools to help the progression towards the sustainability outcomes the students set for their schools as part of the programme.

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

'The students are really thinking longer term with their projects,” says Jo.

'They are working on initiatives that will have ongoing positive impacts on their schools and their communities. I can't say too much about the projects yet because the students are yet to deliver their presentations, but there is infrastructure, renewable energy and biodiversity in the mix!”

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 5 minute youth leadership challenge.

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

The Enviro Challenge programme has been running for over 8 years now and reports a number of its students going on to hold leadership positions in the workforce.

For more information visit www.envirochallenge.org.nz/