Kia ora koutou,

Term one has been jammed packed full of all things water, and it has been great to see so many schools looking at connections to their awa, investigating water quality, and looking at actions to help reduce water pollution.

As we move into the cooler months, its a great time to start exploring the bush, we have kits available to help you delve deeper into learning about invertebrates, fungi, birds and animal pest trapping.

If you are planning a term enquiry around topics such as The Living World, Kaitiakitanga, Papatūānuku, or anything science related make sure you check out our resources page, if you have any resources we can add, you want to book one of our session, or borrow a kit then send us an email.

Also remember to join our Facebook group - Horizons Environmental Education Hub to keep up to date on all things Environmental Education, we love seeing updates on all your latest projects, and its a great place to ask for help if need it.

Mā te wā

Sarah & Christina

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Lytton St School Camp at Sixtus Lodge  

This year we joined Lytton St School at Sixtus Lodge to explore pest animal trapping and water quality.

Students learnt about what pest animals we have in NZ, why they are considered pests, and the damage they do. We set out tracking tunnels to find out what pests we had, how to identify the different footprints, we then looked at what traps we use, and why its important to select the right trap for different pests.

We then headed down to Cone Creek to look at water clarity and what macroinvertebrates we could find living in the awa. Students were excited to find some large mayflies and stoneflies, which are a good indicator of water quality.

Celebrating our oceans in Seaweek 

Seaweek is a opportunity to immerse yourself into all things marine, develop a deeper connection to the ocean, and inspire positive action to protect this important ecosystem.

This year we took part in Whanganui Seaweek with other organisations, including Castlcliff Coastcare, the Department of Conservation (DOC), Whaganui Regional Museum, and Sarjeant Gallery to celebrate our oceans.

Students from schools around the Whanganui area visited Castlecliff beach, where they participated in five rotations, including the importance of sand dunes, and how we should care for them, what marine animals we find in the ocean, creating artwork from objects found on the beach, investigating coastal  invertebrates, and immersive storytelling about traditional Māori stories about Tangaroa and his children.

ENVIROSCHOOLS

Congratulations to......

What a great start to 2024, with the following Enviroschools holding holistic reflections this term:

Ruahine Parkland Kindergarten - Green Gold

Ruahine West End Kindergarten - Silver

Glen Ōroua School - Bronze 

Tino pai 💚

Ruahine Parkland Kindergarten achieves Green Gold

Congratulations to Ruahine Parkland Kindergarten on their Green Gold reflection earlier this term. Being a green gold Enviroschool is an acknowledgment that they live and breath sustainability, and it is weaved into everything they do.

It was heartening to see numerous sustainability practices modelled by the staff for these little people. These include waste reduction through worm farming, bokashi bin use and recycling, making yoghurt to reduce plastic pottles, and growing plants which are either shared with families, given to the community, or swapped at the Palmy Crop Swap.

They also have a close relationship with Parkland School next door, who started their celebration with a kapa haka performance - many students in the group were ex-kindergarten students.

IDEAS & RESOURCES

Horizon Regional Council Community Grants 

Last year Bulls School had a vision to establish a school orchard that can be used as an outdoor classroom, where students can learn about horticulture, environmental stewardship, sustainability, nutrition and the importance of growing their own fruit and vegetables for food resilience.

They were successful with their application to the Horizons Pūtea Hapori Urupare Āhuarangi - Community Climate Response Fund, which supported students to plant 23 fruit trees.

If you have a a cool project which addresses biodiversity or climate change issues within our region, check out the Horizons Regional Council Grants - Open till Friday, 3 May till 1pm.

Kanarau Koiora Taketake Indigenous Biodiversity Community Grant - This contestable fund is open for applications for community-led projects that support communities to reconnect with and improve indigenous biodiversity and those that support the regeneration and continuation of mātauranga Māori.

Pūtea Hapori Urupare Āhuarangi Community Climate Response Fund – This contestable fund is open for climate related projects that aim to support and encourage community efforts to build resilience to the effects of climate change or support the transition to a sustainable carbon neutral regional economy by 2050.

For more information or to apply go here. If you need help with your application please feel free to get in touch.

 World Ocean Day 8 June

Is a way to celebrate our world's shared ocean and our personal connection to the sea, as well as to raise awareness about the crucial role the ocean plays in our lives, and the important ways people can help protect it. 

To find out more about events, and ways you can take action head here.