Ngā mihi o te wā

We hope distance learning is going well for you and your students and this newsletter supports you all with some practical learning from home ideas.

This edition of Pitopito Kōrero is a reminder about the activities available on the DOC website to support learning from home and help you and your students to connect and enjoy nearby nature. 

Being in nature improves our health and wellbeing. Research shows that letting nature into our lives boosts our immune system and reduces stress and anxiety.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact us if you require any advice or have any feedback about this newsletter or our resources.

We would especially love to hear your stories about what you are doing to connect with your nearby nature. Can you share with us how being in nature makes you feel? Photos and updates of what you and your students are doing is encouraging and can support teachers around the country. We will share these stories to help inspire others to enjoy their local nature and look after their wellbeing.

Mā te taiao, kia whakapakari tōu oranga. Let nature in, strengthen your wellbeing.

Stay safe! Kia kaha!

DOC Outreach and Education team

Activity ideas and useful websites

Department of Conservation- Learning from home 
This webpage highlights why it’s important to spend time in nature, plus has fun activities to do with your whānau/household/bubble to connect with nearby nature, stay active and be creative. Which is the trifecta of at-home family fun.
Activity ideas are drawn from our conservation education resources. They include creating a nature journal, experiencing insects, exploring the night sky and many more. Key advice is don’t be put off by the weather – just dress for it!

All the activities are linked to the Five Ways to Wellbeing - 

• Be active | me kori tonu
  Activities to facilitate and support movement, physical activity & play
   
• Connect | me whakawhanaunga
  Observational, well-being and mindfulness activities
   
• Get creative | kia mahi auaha
  Art and craft activities
   
• Take notice | me aro tonu
  Science, measurement and inquiry based activities
  ​
• Give | Tukua
  Your time. Your words. Your presence.

Let Nature In with Benji
Benji Moorhouse is one of our education experts and right now he’s making videos in his backyard to walk you through some of his favourite ways to enjoy nature at home.
Check out this one, where Benji takes us through colour bingo with kākāriki leaves, waiporoporo lavender and kōwhai lemons.

5 Things to do in your bubble – from the 50 Things to do in nature programme
Each week, we’re offering five new additions to the 50 Things to do in Nature programme. 

The best thing about this is that they’re all ideas for kids – from kids. We asked Kiwi kids to put together a list of things they loved to do in nature, and then from these ideas we created this magnificent (if we do say so ourselves) list.

There are ideas for around your home, in your backyard, on your deck or balcony, and from window views. Check back weekly for more activities as the list grows.

Toyota Kiwi Guardians backyard actions
This programme is a collaboration between DOC and Toyota, with a whole lot of fun, interesting and meaningful activities that whānau can do in their backyard bubble. Some of these TKG Actions are old favourites that have been adapted for the lockdown, others are brand new.

Check out the Toyota Kiwi Guardians Facebook page, where we promote different activities, giveaway prizes, and talk about nature with our Kiwi Guardian families.

Grow a seed. Credit: A Studholme