Music in the Reserve
In March we supported the Waipahihi Botanical Reserve with their annual 'Music in the Reserve' event. We provided nature activities for the tamariki, alongside Shannon from Taupō District Council. We had an obstacle course set up by some of our student leaders, native bird bingo, harakeke weaving, nature art and craft, predator bowling, and some friendly stick insects to keep the kids entertained. It was a fun day spent in a beaufiful location, with great music, and lots of sunshine.
We greatly appreciate the opportunity to support the Waipahihi Botanical Gardens with their event. Our gratitude extends to them for generously granting us access to their clubrooms and stunning gardens. The Botanical Gardens hold a special place in the heart of urban Taupō, and we deeply value their significance. We consider the Gardens as the home of the SLT.
Recently, we had the pleasure of hosting the SLT Whānau day, which was attended by 100 student leaders and their families. Additionally, we held our latest SLT meeting to kick off the planting season at the Gardens. This gathering provided an invaluable opportunity to ensure that all students learned the proper planting techniques, empowering them to educate others during upcoming planting days. It was gratifying to contribute to the Waipahihi Botanical Gardens by donating plants to enhance the space. With Graeme's guidance, the director of the gardens, the area was cleared of blackberry bushes in preparation for our students to plant. We even had our first-ever planting session in the dark thanks to Daylight Savings! The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and it was a new adventure for even our most seasoned planters. Upon our return, both Graeme and ourselves were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the plantings, despite the limited visibility.
Never one to let a moment go to waste, we managed to squeeze in a spotlight Easter egg hunt, featuring quiz questions about our native flora and fauna, which added an extra layer of fun to the day.
