Riverlands School – Rediscovering Te Taiao in Their Own Backyard
Riverlands School have reignited their Envirogroup. A small group of keen Enviroleaders have been rediscovering their school environment through small nature connection activities.
Small changes in the environment are hard to notice when you are playing in the same space every day. Some familiar and special places are taken for granted. That’s where nature connection activities come in – helping tamariki pause, observe, and notice what is happening… and sometimes more importantly, what’s not happening.
The Enviroleaders have been busy; becoming plant detectives, identifying native plants and learning their names. Also exploring where they might find atua in the playground, investigating the different habitats that exist within their school grounds and going on insect hunts to discover who else shares their space. As well as taking part in a gratitude scavenger hunt – finding things that could be made into a gift, given to make someone smile, used to make music, or simply make you happy.
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- Bug Hunt – a blue ladybird
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- Bug Hunt – a slug safe and warm inside a bok choy plant
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- Bug Hunt – a worm found deep in the compost heap to keep warm
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- Bug Hunt – citrus white fly infestation on the back of an orange tree leaf
Although lots of fun, these discoveries form the beginnings of a school map. The group plan to use what they’ve learned to come up with an action that will help te taiao at their school. As well as remind everyone about the amazing native species of plants, insects, and manu that call Riverlands home.
Ka mau te wehi, Riverlands Enviroleaders – we can’t wait to see what you do next!