Message from the Educator

SPOTLIGHT ON:

Action Fund supported awesome projects in Palmerston North

Recipients of the 2018-2019 Enviroschools action fund were Monrad Intermediate School, Palmerston North Girl's High School, Ross Intermediate School, and Freyberg High School. Here are couple of short case studies about how some of these Enviroschools used their funding.

Monrad Intermediate School students enhance their outdoor space in a healthy, nutritional way

This was where the idea to develop an orchard came from. Student inquiry centred on plant knowledge, the school environment and where it was suitable to grow fruit trees, including the type of soil, plus looking at the values of the school and community, as this would affect their choice of fruit trees. The students initially planned for the orchard to go in a large open space by the open field. But on conducting tests of the soil and drainage in this area they made the decision to pot most of the trees (including cherry, citrus, peach, feijoa and pear) into planters, and plant the fruit bushes (such as blueberry, boysenberry, and raspberry) around the main classroom areas. Five apple trees were planted straight into the ground. The planters were situated right next to all the classrooms. This was a good decision at the time as everyone could see and take notice of our new trees and shrubs. However, over the course of three months the students began to notice that the trees planted directly into the ground were much healthier than the ones in the pots. So the students realised that they needed to get them all in the ground as soon as possible, before summer arrives so the trees had the best possible environment to grow healthy and strong. With the help of whānau, they prepared a new area and transplanted the remaining trees into the ground.

Although this is still a work in progress, teacher, Niki Burtenshaw said that an amazing part of this process is the feedback that they have received from whānau and the wider community. Every day, as new companion plants flower, trees blossom and turn to fruit, the students and community are buzzing, and talking about what is happening in our orchard.

Girls High expand their food production and include it in the curriculum

Palmerston North Girl's High School used their grant towards creating a functioning glasshouse. The hort area at the school was already planted with vegetables which are used by students in the home economics department. But they wanted increase the amount of food they could grow, to allow more members of the envirogroup and the wider school to engage with horticulture, biology, science, food sustainability and production. Once erected, the greenhouse was also used as a pop-up cafe by the food technology students. The growing and use of the produce is being integrated into the Food Technology curriculum and Extension programme. As well as growing more food in the greenhouse, they have also planted a number of fruit trees nearby including heritage apples, pears, feijoas, plums and citrus. With the revamp, a new community has developed, with increased interest in plants and how the sustainability area can be used as a resource across a range of learning areas. Students have learned to plant trees and they take pride in these - checking on their health and fruitfulness. Conversations about sustainability, food production and next steps happen daily. Relationships have formed that enhance hauora and are intergenerational.

Enviroschools Action Fund has a new name - the Pat Kelly Enviroschools Action Fund

Over the past two years we have supported Enviroschool projects with our action fund. In October, with support from our new elected members, we decided to rename this fund to the Pat Kelly Enviroschools Action Fund. This is in memory of former Councillor Pat Kelly who was a huge supporter and advocate of the programme. The 2019-2020 fund had $7,000 allocated to it, in which Enviroschools could apply for a grant of up to $1,000. We received 14 applications with over $13,000 worth of projects applied for. Unfortunately, as you can see we were not able support all the projects. Here are a list of the successful recipients.

• Little Kiwis Learning Centre to develop an orchard
• Whanganui Girls College to restore their vege gardens
• Brunswick School towards a new tunnel house
• Love and Learn Care and Education for a water tank
• Follett Street Kindergarten to create raised beds for a community garden
• Tararua College to re-clad an aging greenhouse
• Turaki School for timber to create a recycled bottle greenhouse
• Orautoha School to re-clad an 18 year old shade house
• Newbury School for a second worm farm
• Kimbolton School for fruit trees for a community orchard

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Horizons Internship day

Back in October, six of the seven Manawatū Science and Technology Fair prize winners attended a hands on internship day to learn about the science we do and our role in managing freshwater and terrestrial environments. Students went to Tōtara Reserve and looked at some of the information we collect to measure the state of our rivers. This was led by research associates from our science team. The students sampled for macroinvertebrates and assessed algal cover using a bathyscope which looks little an orange traffic cone. Moving onto land, the students made soil ‘worms’ as part of an introduction to our soils programme. Later in the afternoon, the biodiversity team talked about our role in managing privately owned native bush remnants and wetlands. Students then completed some basic native tree identification, looked at pest animal tracks and traps, 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. We hope the experience inspires them to explore environmental science as a career option in the future.    

Long term water project kicks off this term with Ruapehu College 

The vision for science at Ruapehu College is that students will be environmentally aware problem solvers that have the confidence to use the nature of science to be engaged citizens of their world. But to be citizens of their world, they should connect with their local environment and the college wanted to ensure that they start this process through engaging in their waterways.  The college already uses a water quality study for one of their NCEA assessments but were keen to embed this into all levels of the science curriculum. This would ensure that students can become competent at collecting data as they move through their schooling, and their focus on a different aspect of water health will change each year.

Over the past year, I have been providing technical support to the head of science at Ruapehu College who is setting up a long term water quality project on the Makaranui Stream in Ohakune. Kicking off in Term 1, the project will allow the regular collection of water quality data throughout the year at three sites along this stream as it flows through different land uses. In addition to sampling the macroinvertebrates, clarity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity which can be done on site, students will also collect a water sample which will be sent to a lab to analyse other indicators of stream health such as total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and E.coli. The majority of the data collected in this project are those which we already collect for our State of Environment reporting so this project will help contribute to the understanding of the wider environmental pressures of the Whangaehu River catchment from land use.

Whether you are a primary or secondary school, if you are interested in discussing how you could set up your own long term water quality project, contact me here.

Fossicking for invertebrates in the bush at Awahuri-Kitchener Park

Last term, the Awahuri-Kitchener Park Trust launched their first round of environmental education sessions for selected schools in the Feilding area. I joined other educators to provide a number of schools with a day of activities exploring this park. Sessions included Māori history, tree identification, native birds, and looking for invertebrates. In my sessions, the students found some real gems from leaf veined slugs to pint size weta, huhu grubs and heaps of spiders.  

#Swiminourregion – Horizons’ Swimmability 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, we had three winners. One in first place, and two second equal. Julie, our second equal winner, spent her prize with whānau at Bridge to Nowhere up the Whanganui River. Check out her pictures. 

Introducing our new Enviroschools in Horowhenua

A huge welcome to our new Enviroschools in Horowhenua:

• Manawatu College
• Waiopehu College
• Ohau School
• Shannon School
• Opiki School
• Tararua Educare
• Country Educare
• Betty Montford Kindergarten

Last term, we met with all our new Enviroschools to briefly introduce them to Enviroschools resources. This term we are holding a half day cluster workshop for all lead Enviroschools teachers to unpack the kaupapa. A big thanks to Horowhenua District Council who have provided funding for their Facilitator Chris Simons, to come on board and support these Enviroschools as they start their long term journey to become sustainable schools and centres.

Taking a breather and reflecting on their sustainability journey so far

Term 4 saw many Enviroschools holding holistic reflections. Congratulations to Ohakune Primary School, the Secret Garden Childcare Centre, Newbury School, Puddleducks Nursey and Preschool, Pukeokahu School, First Years Learning Centre for reflecting to Bronze. Marton Childcare Centre reflected to Silver, the first ECE to do so in our region.

Sustainable communities through kai at The Herb Farm

Manawatū Enviroschools Facilitator, Rowena Brown, kicked off her series of cluster workshops on sustainable communities through kai with two workshops held at the Herb Farm near Ashhurst. Hosted by founder and herbalist Lynn Kirkland, the workshop focused on learning about herbs, from their identification, to creating herb gardens, and the many uses of herbs. Attendees also explored the rich resources and activities available for both school and ECE. Each school/centre went home with some calendula plants for their gardens, and an accompanying children’s story.

RESOURCES AND IDEAS