Message from the Educator

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING?

Horizons Internship day

Back in November, nine science fair prize winners from Dannevirke Regional Science and Manawatū Science and Technology fairs attended a hands on internship day to learn about the science we do and our role in managing freshwater and terrestrial environments.

The students went to our regional park, Tōtara Reserve, to look at the variety of biotic and abiotic data we collect to measure the state of our rivers. This was led by members of our science team who ran activities on native fish, macroinvertebrates (bugs), and assessing algal cover, including an electrofishing demonstration. One of our senior research associates also showed the students Smart Troll technology and how we use information on temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen to help us build a picture of our river health. In the afternoon, the students looked at our role in managing privately owned native bush remnants and wetlands. Students completed some basic native tree identification, looked at pest animal tracks, and talked about invasive weeds and their effect on our native bush habitats. Our aim was for the students to understand how their areas of study can relate to other environmental issues and think about the bigger picture. They are the future of conservation and hopefully the day inspired them to keep up their science curiosity. We hope the experience inspires them to explore environmental science as a career option in the future.

NEW Education Resources

Throughout the year, we have created some more education resources that we can offer schools. In addition to animal pest tracking and trapping, and exploring invertebrates in the bush, we now have two more resources; native tree investigation and exploring water pollution. These are available for loan, with or without Educator support. If you are interested in these activities, or any other biodiversity activities please contact me.

Native Trees
Many schools have access to native trees in their grounds or local park. There are a wealth of activities which can help students connect with the natural environment and explore what lives there. In addition to looking at invertebrates which live in the bush, we now have a resource to assist students in identifying different native species. To help start students developing their basic skills in tree identification they need to know different leaf shapes, textures, whether their edges are toothed, and how the leaves are arranged on their stem. This resource unpacks this, with suggested extension activities to take this further.

Enviroscapes®
Enviroscapes® is a water catchment model which explores non-point source pollution which contributes a great deal to the pollution in our waterways. This class-based resource has a range of activities which help students to identify the types of non-point source, or run off, pollution, coming from both urban and rural areas. Students can also discuss ways to mitigate the pollution to keep our waterways healthy. This activity is a great precursor to conducting a Waiora stream study.     

#Swiminourregion – Horizons’ Swimability Campaign

Horizons Regional Council’s summer swim spot monitoring programme is underway again to help inform you about potential health risks and highlight the region’s fantastic recreational sites. The annual programme runs from 1 November to the end of April and tests water health at over 80 sites across the region. Weekly water samples from each site are sent to an independent accredited lab for testing. Results are received within 48 hours and are updated weekly on Horizons’ dedicated Safe Swim Spots’ web page. There, an interactive map shows each of the swim spots marked by a red, amber or green location maker to indicate that week’s bacteria results, or you can view them in table format.

Horizons’ swim spot campaign includes the competition 'Swim, Splash and Share Your Region', which encourages the public to post a photo of their favourite swim spot along with the hashtag #swiminourregion and the site's location tagged to Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram. Entries are automatically in the draw to win an adventure package worth up to $1500. Last year’s winner was Amanda Hodge, who stayed at the Bridge to Nowhere and the Whanganui River, and did some water activities with her family.  

Spruce up your swim spot events 

To celebrate the many fantastic summer swim spots around our region, and help create a ‘get involved’ attitude among our communities, Horizons are organising a swim spot clean up in each of our districts. With help from More FM, they’re calling everyone from near and far to lend a hand. There will be spot prizes, a free BBQ and 'nice' blocks - plus every family that comes along will go in the draw to win a grocery voucher so they can grab a yummy picnic for the next time they head off for a swim.

Each clean-up will run from 10am - 12pm. Just bring yourself, your friends and the family (and your togs for a dip after) – we’ve got everything else covered!

Saturday 9 February - The Channels, Taumarunui
Sunday 17 February - Timona Park, Feilding
Sunday 24 February - Kahuterawa Reserve, Palmerston North
Saturday 2 March - Castlecliff Beach, Whanganui
Saturday 23 March - Kimberley Reserve, Levin
Saturday 30 March - Ferry Reserve, Woodville
Saturday 6 April - Bulls Bridge, Bulls

Bronze Holistic Reflection

Feilding Kindergarten held their Bronze reflection in December. It was great to see other early childhood centres and parents attending as part of this process and supporting Feilding Kindergarten on their special day.

NEW Enviroschools

Our Enviroschools whānau is growing with 11 new schools/centres starting their Enviroschools journey this year. Funding for facilitation of the programme comes from our awesome city and district councils so a big thank you to Whanganui, Manawatu and Rangitikei District Councils and Palmerston North City Council. Their additional funding has allowed First Years’ Learning Centre, Westmere School, Gonville School, Monrad Intermediate School, Freyberg High School, Tui Early Learners (Young Investigators), and Hunterville School to join the programme.

Also joining the Enviroschools whānau are four centres from the Ruahine Kindergarten Association; Follett Street, Makino, Campbell Street and West End. Teachers from the centres attended an introduction to Enviroschools workshop run by Katie Higgins, the national ECE Enviroschools Coordinator, where they unpacked the kaupapa and made a commitment to becoming sustainable.  A big welcome to all.

SPOTLIGHT ON

New Fitness Track at South Makirikiri School

The playing field at Enviroschool South Makirikiri gets especially wet and boggy in the winter, leaving it unusable by the students. This limits the space available for outdoor activities and play. In 2015, three school community members had a conversation that sparked an idea about a possible track around the field for the community to exercise on, play on and enjoy. Over the past three years, multiple community working bees have transformed the school’s field into a fitness track. A boardwalk was constructed, fitness stations installed, and native plantings added along the length of the track to encourage birds and insects into their school grounds. It was a long project but officially opened in November 2018 and I went along to see what they had been up to.

They received a community grant of $3,000 from Horizons Regional Council to buy native plants.

IDEAS

Squawk Squad

For the third year running, Squawk Squad is providing a free digital environmental education programme for NZ schools during Term 3. This will culminate in Conservation Week (September 14 - 22 2019) - over the last two years 85,000 NZ students have enrolled and taken part in this programme. Like never before, they are popularising environmental education in NZ by providing teachers with free resources that are easy-to-use, digitally focused, and engaging.

The first 500 teachers signed up for Conservation Week 2019 before 7 February will receive free Squawk Squad ranger wristbands for their entire class! Be quick, these will go fast. 😊

Sign up here: https://goo.gl/oVf95S

Conservation Week 2018 engaged our tamariki with NZ native birds via a virtual reality experience. This was offered in both Te Reo Māori and English. This exciting content will be available again during Conservation Week 2019 as it was a real highlight.

The Conservation Week 2019 free digital education program will run for seven weeks in Term 3, with a one hour environmental focused lesson plan per week. This will be combined with friendly competitions, videos, prizes, and exciting announcements.

2018 Highlights Video