Connecting to Nature- Bush School and Gully Kindy Sessions

This term we have been busy making the most of the last of summer, connecting tamariki to nature in local bush and gully areas. We’ve joined many ECE centres to support/lead their excursions to local natural spaces. We have also joined Tauhara Primary School and Taupō Primary School on their bush school excursions. Our coordinators are able to share knowledge and ideas with the teachers to help them enhance their programmes.

On these adventures, we’ve looked at the types of seeds and how they are dispersed, then spread native seeds around the sites, shaking seed pods and blowing seeds to the wind. We even looked at the bird poo to see how seeds were dispersed by birds!

We have done lots of bug hunts, encouraging tamariki to observe nature closely and spot the smallest creatures around them. They have been learning about how important these critters are for the ecosystems around them. They’ve learnt about their life cycles and special traits.

And, of course we have done hands on conservation work with the tamariki too. Traps have been checked, cleared and re-baited. Plants have been mulched and weeds have been removed.

We believe that connecting our tamariki with nature, and building a love for the natural world, will help tamariki learn to care for nature and want to protect it when they are older.