Waitaki Girls' High School year 13 pupil Breanna Greaney, Wakatipu High School year 13 pupil Gareth Harcombe, Otago Boys' High School year 11 pupil Benjamin Burrow and Central Southland College year 13 pupil Lachlan Thomson are among 56 year 11-13 pupils from across the country who were selected to participate in the week-long programme (April 12-18) in Waikato.
The group is learning about environmental issues facing New Zealand, including climate change, marine and freshwater health, and biodiversity decline.
They are also being exposed to career paths in their field of interest and being shown real-world applications of subjects they study in the classroom.
Sir Peter Blake Trust (Blake) chief executive officer James Gibson said the programme aimed to kick-start environmental passion, leadership and action in young New Zealanders.
"At Blake, our purpose is to restart people caring for the environment, and we want to do this through adventure, participation, education and enjoyment.
"Blake Inspire develops young New Zealanders who are prepared to take on the environmental challenges we face today."
Blake Inspire is run in partnership with the Ministry for the Environment.
Chief executive Vicky Robertson said New Zealand's "environmental legacy" was now being passed on to young Kiwis to shape for the future.
"And they are very aware of that responsibility. The Ministry for the Environment sees part of its role is to support the education and leadership skills of New Zealand's next generation.
