Explore a Redwood Forest
These resources were created for a school in Rotorua keen to explore the Redwood Forest. With students in wheelchairs, the Mokopuna Track offered the perfect opportunity to connect with nature in a safe, accessible way.
We designed the resources to encourage students to slow down, look closely, and experience the forest through all their senses. The aim was to help them see their surroundings in a new light—looking beyond the towering exotic redwoods to discover the native flora and fauna thriving beneath them. By sparking curiosity and encouraging exploration, we hope to deepen their connection with Aotearoa’s unique natural world.
Click on the image to download the pdf
Individual Scavenger Hunt Cards
The resource below is designed to be printed onto individual cards, each featuring a feature found in the forest. These cards can be used in a variety of ways—hold one up and have students search for the matching item in nature, or hand them out for students to match themselves. They’re also great for classroom use: spark discussion about what might be seen on an upcoming trip, or reflect on what was discovered after a walk in the bush.
Whether on the track or back in class, these cards are all about encouraging observation, curiosity, and deeper connections with the nature around them.
Download the pdfs of individual items to print and hunt for here:
Texture Hunt
Download and print these texture hunts, then laminate them. You can be creative in how you use them, but here are a couple of ideas:
Add something of the matching texture to the blank space for students to feel and understand the texture that they’re looking for e.g. a piece of fabric, crumpled foil, or card.
Have students find something to glue to the space! You can put a piece of double sided tape, or a ‘glue dot’ on the blank space that children can stick their find to while out in the bush.
Here’s another texture hunt that you might enjoy. It’s in te reo Māori and English.
Download the pdfs of the resources below here: Page 1-2 Page 3-4
