As part of Basin Heroes, students will have the opportunity to engage with local landholders, Traditional Owners, educators and scientists through field trips and interviews and ultimately create a book based on their own investigations of the local environment and the wider Basin.

There will also be a distinct focus on the Murray Darling Basin as a vital national asset.

"The Murray Darling Basin is home to 2.2million Australians including more than 40 First Nations and generates $24 billion in food and fibre and $8 billion in tourism" Petaurus Education Group Program Coordinator Caitlin Lawrence said.

"There are also more than 120 species of waterbirds and 50 species of native fish that live in the basin so it is important that we try to improve knowledge and appreciation of the Basin, and platform its importance for agriculture and communities."

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The program is based on the highly successful Creative Catchment Kids Initiative which has won a number of regional and national awards over the past decade.

MDBA Chief Education Officer Annette Blyton said that the Basin Heroes was paramount to ensure the Basin is kept healthy for future generations.

"The Murray Darling Basin is an ecological and economic powerhouse and the Murrumbidgee region is an important cog in this wheel with its rich biodiversity and multi million dollar agricultural industries" Ms Blyton said.

RAMSAR wetlands like Fivebough and Tuckerbil are also right on the doorstep of the Leeton Shire.

"This will see students introduced to hidden wildlife, fish and bugs to give them a deeper appreciation of the ecology of their local wetlands" Ms Blyton said.

"It is equally important that our younger generation reflect on how much we all depend on a healthy river system for drinking water, food production, tourism and culture" she continued.

The program is set to launch later this year, with students from schools in Albury-Wodonga, Murray Bridge, Mildura and Goondiwindi also set to explore local catchment issues alongside schools in Griffith and Leeton.

At the end of the year, the success of the program will be evaluated before a decision is made to roll it out to further.

For more information and to register a school you can contact Caitlin on 0434 208 849.

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