Blog - Page 5 of 19 - Enviroschools Marlborough

August 18, 2024

Wetlands – Nature’s Superheroes!

Last term four schools took the opportunity to work next to and learn from the Wetland Warriors volunteers just how amazing our wetlands are. It was made possible thanks to a wonderful collaboration between Junior Landcare, Enviroschools and the Wetland Warriors at Grovetown Lagoon. Standing on the banks of the lagoon, it can be a little tricky to understand just how wetlands filter water and protect surrounding areas from flooding. So Angela visited the schools armed with two experiments that helped to explain the wetland superpowers. The first experiment explored how wetlands manage water, especially during heavy rains or storms. Students built a landscape out of clay then imitated a rainfall event by pouring water over...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

July 26, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Matariki at Montessori

Matariki - a time of reflection, coming together, celebration and looking to the future. Earlier this month Montessori celebrated Matariki with their whānau and community. It was also a time to acknowledge 30 years of Montessori operating in Blenheim and the unveiling of their Enviroschools sign. A very special event that was marked with whānau and friends coming together, sharing kai and a heartfelt performance from the tamariki. Ramona Millen from the MDC Environmental Education team was invited to their event to present the community with their sign. She also shared some information about the Enviroschools kaupapa. The Enviroschools kaupapa is about creating a healthy, peaceful, sustainable world through learning and taking action together. Montessori signed up...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

July 18, 2024

Enviroschools stories

Matariki at Awatere Early Learning Centre

Walking into Awatere Early Learning Centre on the 27th June there was the hum of people, adults and children. In the kitchen a group of mums were organising crock pots of soup and buttering bread. Whilst also arranging other kai that had been brought in by whānau. Meanwhile a group of dads walked through carrying the BBQ ready to start cooking outside. Children were playing and laughing, and younger siblings were desperately trying to keep up. The feel of whānau and community resonated within the room - they have gathered to celebrate Matariki and unveil their new Enviroschools sign.

: Fairy lights lit up the outdoor area

: Whānau helping out in the kitchen

: Ramona Millen unveiling their Enviroschools sign

Awatere Early Learning Centre have been involved in an Enviroschools pilot programme since...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

July 1, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Redwoodtown Kindergarten take action

With a new team of teachers at Redwoodtown Kindergarten and a passion to do more for Te Taiao they invited Ramona in to re engage the Kindergarten with the Enviroschools Kaupapa. They started with getting familiar with the Enviroschools Guiding Principles. They then identified all that they were already doing as well as some areas that they would like to strengthen. This then led them to looking at their environment and brainstorming how they would like the place to look, feel and sound. The combination of this information supported the team to develop and identify areas to take action. Some of the key areas were Strengthening community relationships Growing their cultural awareness Growing/providing kai for...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 26, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Montessori tamariki connect to nature

At Montessori Blenheim, children live and breathe the guiding principle, Kaitiakitanga - Guardianship. Children see themselves as active global citizens who are responsible for their actions. They engage in sustainable practices and show aroha for Papatūānuku. This means the children are finding ways to connect with the local community, step into their role as a kaitiaki and recognise themselves as part of the natural world. As they build their sense of belonging and connect with their natural environment, they are learning to show respect for Tāne Māhuta and the Mauri of his ngāhere. "Just enough people to give it a cuddle" - Cameron Last month, a group of little Montessori explorers embarked on...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 21, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Wetland Warriors

Every Wednesday morning a volunteer team calling themselves the Wetland Warriors meet at Grovetown Lagoon to plant natives, weed, clear paths, raise plants and trap pests to protect the beautiful environment around the Lagoon. This term on partnership with Junior Landcare, Envirogroup’s have the opportunity to work alongside the Wetland Warriors (WW) volunteers while learning about the wetlands and why its restoration is so important. Unfortunately the first session was called off due to wet weather, and so in the first week of June Tua Marina and Waikawa Bay Schools became the first groups of students to join the WW team. Their job for the morning was to plant grasses and trees on the banks of...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 9, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Tai Tōrua workshop – Nature Connection

On a clear crisp Marlborough Autumn morning Ramona and Angela invited a group of ECE and Primary teachers to join them outside for an introduction to Nature Connection. The Marlborough District Council Environmental Education team had been invited to present at the Tai Tōrua workshop. The focus for this workshop was to "support teachers to move from traditional views and practices in Health & PE to more inclusive, culturally responsive and innovative initiatives within the curriculum and its delivery". Nature Connection was the perfect fit to this brief. With substantial research highlighting the benefits that nature has on our Hauora, Ramona and Angela were able to introduce a variety of activities and ideas under the...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 9, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Te Kura at Pollard Park

Angela hosted a small group of enthusiastic Te Kura students in the Backyard Garden at Pollard Park at the beginning of the term. Thankfully Tamanuiterā had melted the frost and warmed the garden making it the ideal place to observe the changes in season and investigate the types of vegetables that enjoy the cooler temperatures of autumn and winter. They found spinach, broad beans, parsley, spring onions, kale, cauliflower, silver beet and beetroot, taste testing some of the leaves as they went. They discovered that the tender young leaves of the broad beans can be eaten, these taste very similar to broccoli. To their delight they also discovered eating enough of the leaves turns...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 9, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Tuarua – giving back – at Waikawa Bay School

The students at Waikawa Bay School have been learning about the values of Matariki with a focus on tuarua - giving back. Free Fair at Waikawa Bay School The first three weeks of term 2 students explored what it means to help and support others. They explored ways that appreciation can be shown and developed an understanding of how in working together as a community everyone is valued. Ideas came flooding in as to how the school could say thank you to the people and local community groups that had given time, shared their knowledge and expertise, donated sports and classroom equipment, and funding for projects. The ideas were sorted and grouped together...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 8, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Kahikatea Reserve Planting

If you haven’t visited Kahikatea Reserve between Springcreek and Tua Marina, you must put it on your to-do list! This 20 year restoration of bare pasture land features beautiful Rimu, Totara, Kahikatea, Matai, Manuka, Tarata, Lancewood, Harakeke, Kawakawa, Koromiko and a myriad of other natives. The aim of the restoration is to return the land to its origins of a lowland swamp ngahere dominated by the mighty Kahikatea of which there are only 3 semi-mature trees left standing on the Wairau Plains. This was the backdrop of a planting project with Tua Marina and Springcreek Schools. Unfortunately, a small fire destroyed part of the restoration late last year. The crew of Landscape Marlborough wanted to...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 9, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Building a Sustainable Community through Kai

Term 4 and 1 are always favourites in the Kids Edible Gardens calendar as there is so much to harvest. There is nothing better than fresh peas, broad beans (and their leaves), crunchy lettuce and broccoli eaten in the garden. School kitchens get a work out too – vegetable fritters and stir-fry’s are whipped up and lettuce wraps are folded. Apples cooked into crumbles or roasted potatoes have everyone’s mouth watering. As well as an oldie but a goodie, pikelets with cream and fresh berries from the garden. Once the children at Picton School have finished their gardening jobs they aim to deliver vegetables to the Picton School Kitchen to be used in their school...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 5, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Enviroschools 101 Workshop

An Enviroschool is full of active learners developing skills, understanding, knowledge confidence and working together to plan, design and create a sustainable place … but how do we get to that point? This term Angela and Annie ran an Enviroschools 101 workshop. This was for those new to Enviroschools or wanting to know a bit more before stepping into a lead role for Enviroschools at their school. Where was the best place to start? Out in the environment! Fairhall School was the background for our activities, noticing and observing te taiao in a slower more deliberate way. A place to map what we found to build a puna mātauranga, pool of knowledge. Creating a map is...

by Enviroschools Marlborough