No images? Click here
Kia ora koutou
We hope you had a great summer break and are looking forward to the new school year.
To complement the enviro-education kits you are able borrow, we are now starting to roll out teacher professional development (PD) workshops to help you unpack activities, learn how the equipment works, and how you can use these with your students to supporting your connections to your local environment.
The majority of these workshops are for a few hours after school, and are all free to attend. Our first workshop was on native seed propagation back in November, held in Feilding, read more about this below.
We will be holding more workshops throughout the region so if you want to be kept up to date with these opportunities, register your interest at education@horizons.govt.nz
Mā te wā
Sarah & Christina
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Teacher PD Opportunities in Term 1
We have set dates for a number of PD opportunities in Term 1. Please see the outline of these below. Remember you feel confident in running activities with your students but just need some equipment, email us to book one of our kits.
If you are keen to register for any workshops, want to borrow some equipment or want to discuss booking one of our educators for activities with your students then please email us.
Teacher PD - Preparing seeds and cutting for planting
Back in November, we held our first teacher professional development where we teamed up with Manawatū District Council’s native plant nursery to hold a plant propagation workshop for local teachers.
Attendees learnt how to prepare different types of seeds and cuttings for sowing, common diseases affecting seedlings, and tips for setting up their own school native plant nurseries.
We are planning more professional development workshops this year so if you are interested in receiving more information about future workshops then email education@horizons.govt.nz
Explore water / wai with your students this term
Term 1 is the best time to get your students out to your local stream and focus on Waiora.
Waiora means the purest form of water, the source of life and wellbeing. It describes water not only as we can see and feel it, but also its quality and health.
Water has many different dimensions and uses. It is a resource, a place to play, and is essential for spiritual renewal. Care and celebration of our water resources is one of the most important tasks we have as guardians of this land.
Waiora Stream Study is a water quality study which measures the physical attributes of the stream, habitat assessments, biological indicators of stream health and native fish.
If you are keen to learn more about water quality issues in NZ, aquatic habitats and the impacts of land management, then register for this workshop. All attendees will receive a copy of the Teachers Guide to Waiora.
There are three workshops available:
* Wednesday 25th Jan – Palmerston North (Manawatū River at Ahimate Park) – 10-12pm
* Thursday 26th Jan – Feilding (Kiwitea Stream, Herlihy Reserve on SH54 Kimbolton Road) – 10-12pm
* Thursday 9th Feb – Taumarunui (Whanganui River at Cherry Grove) - 3.30-5.30pm
Other Waiora workshops are planned for 2023 so email us if you want to be kept up to date with other opportunities in your rohe.
Introducing Mt Lees Reserve – a place to explore and to camp
If you are a Manawatū resident then you might know about the hidden gem of Mt Lees Reserve on the outskirts of Feilding. This reserve is run by Manawatū District Council with their goal to make this a place for education.
We have been supporting the Council to develop ways in which you can use the reserve for environmental education activities, including providing education kits for you to use while you are there. Plus the bonus is that it is also a camp site which they are encouraging schools to use.
Come along to this hui to explore the reserve, try out some enviro activities, and talk to council staff about school camps.
Date: Wednesday 25th Jan – 3.30-5.30pm with afternoon tea provided.
Halcombe School explore Foxton Beach
Halcombe School held their camp in Term 4 last year at Foxton Beach. Students had the opportunity to explore the Manawatū Estuary and learn about driftwood ecology.
The students had fun hunting for the impressive larvae of the sand scarab beetle and discovered there is a vast variety and abundance of biodiversity in and around the sand dunes.
They tested out our new binoculars around the estuary in the hope of sighting the Godwits that had recently started to arrive at the Estuary as part of their annual migration.
We will be launching a new bird kit (including the binoculars) next year to add to our kit resources for schools to borrow. If this is something you are interested to borrow you can fill out our online form.
We also offer kits for stream study (waiora), animal pest trapping and bug kits.
Whanganui enviro-educators hosted by the Learning Environment
Each term the enviro-educators in Whanganui get together to talk about what’s on top for them, collaborate on events and to provide support where needed to each other in their own mahi.
Last term, the Learning Environment hosted the group at their site up with Whanganui River.
They are regenerating Pīwakawaka Farm as part of supporting the social and environmental wellbeing of Whanganui and gave attendees a tour around their site.
The team talked about the courses they offer to the community, and we heard more about their aspirations.
Kairanga School start native forest restoration project with Environment Network Fund
Kairanga School’s native forest restoration area project has received two small grants from the EIF through Environment Network Manawatū. Principal James Rea is delighted about what funding is helping the school achieve for its children and for the environment:
“We have continued to make the space an area where children can learn and a space for the community to share. The added plantings will in time make it an even better space for wildlife. The space is starting to look more appealing and after (consultation) the children have further plans for developing the undergrowth to attract more insects and lizards as well as develop seating for classes to use when learning in the space.”
If you would like to look at funding options with ENM see our resources section below or call 06 355 0126 or go here to find out more.
ENVIROSCHOOLS
We have reached 100 Enviroschools!
Last term we celebrated a significant milestone with Kākātahi School becoming the 100th Enviroschool in the Horizons Region.
Participation in the programme has grown from 43 Enviroschools since 2016 and appreciate the partnerships from district councils in our region who we have partnered with to deliver the programme.
We are seeing more schools wanting to engage with environmental education activities and creating long-term visions for sustainability in their communities.
The Enviroschools programme provides positive outcomes and education to the wider community. Read more here.
Congratulations to......
Brunswick School and Pukeokahu School who reflected to Silver,
and to
Marton School who reflected to Bronze.
Enviroschool's Water and Me workshops
Our Enviroschools cluster workshops are held to allow teachers to learn something new, be inspired, and to connect with each other. In a couple of districts we have been holding a series workshops called Water and Me.
Attendees have explored the concepts of water is a precious resource, the science of water and wai restoration by unpacking the Enviroschools theme area resource on Water of Life.
If you are an Enviroschool and are thinking of doing an inquiry around water/wai in 2023, then have a flick through the resource which is a guide to learning and action that can enhance your Enviroschool’s interactions with water.
You can explore the key concepts and look at different activities that you could use with your tamariki.
Āpiti Schools' first BioBlitz
Āpiti School students participated in their first BioBlitz last year. A BioBlitz is a survey of a specific area where you identify all the different plants and animals you find. The students were placed in their whānau groups where they participated in a series of rotations and activities on birds, invertebrates, introduced mammals and native trees. The last rotation had each group plant a native tree and create a personalised plaque for that tree.
Information from the BioBlitz will be collated and used to create a baseline of data for future reference. This will help measure the effectiveness of future action projects, aiming to increase the native biological diversity in and around the school. It was an effective and fun way to engage tamariki with the environment and go deeper with their learning for sustainability.
Recipients of Pat Kelly 2022-2023
At the end of last year, we awarded 24 grants to Enviroschools for environmental and sustainability projects for 2023.
The Pat Kelly Enviroschools Action Fund supports sustainability projects from Enviroschools in the Manawatū – Whanganui Region.
We have added a water conservation project option, where three recipients can be awarded up to $2,000 which is in addition to the $20,000 we offer for projects that link with the Enviroschools kaupapa.
You can read about the projects awarded funds for 2023 here.
IDEAS & RESOURCES
Sustainability Calendar 2023
Use the Education for Sustainability calendar to help plan your curriculum activities for the year.
Seaweek -Sat. 4 March - Sun. 12 March 2023
Seaweek - Kaupapa Moana is New Zealand's annual national week to celebrate the sea.
Get out an discover how our lives are connected to the sea.
You can sign up to find out what's happening here
ENM Environmental Initiatives Fund
Environment Network Manawatu (ENM) administers the Environmental Initiatives Fund to support Palmerston North-based community initiatives that improve environmental outcomes. This funding has been made possible by Palmerston North City Council. Small Grants (up to $1000, open year-round) and Large Grants (between $1,000 and $12,000 and open from 1st February- 15th March 2023.) are available for projects that align with PNCC’s Eco-City Strategy priorities and any identified priorities of ENM. You can find out more information here.
