nature connection Archives - Enviroschools Marlborough

November 25, 2025

Outdoor Classroom Day

"Outdoor Classroom Day is a global movement to make time outdoors part of every child’s day". This year Redwoodtown Kindergarten and Seymour Kindergarten took part in Outdoor Classroom Day. Both Kindergartens took a different approach to their involvement but with the same intention of engaging with the outdoor environment. Redwoodtown Kindergarten "The Tamariki of Redwoodtown Kindergarten thoroughly enjoyed participating in International Outdoor Classroom Day, engaging in a range of learning experiences that celebrated exploration and discovery in nature. They demonstrated curiosity, teamwork and creativity as they investigated their environment, worked together to solve problems and expressed ideas through play.

: Bath time in the sun

: Reading cubbies

The outdoor setting provided valuable opportunities for developing physical skills, confidence, and a deeper appreciation...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 10, 2025

Enviroschools stories General

A New Nature Exploration Space

Last year we saw a strong focus on Nature Connection spread across schools and ECE’s in Marlborough. The growing knowledge of how important time in nature is and the relationship that we have with it meant that many were prioritising establishing their own programmes to get out there more regularly. In recognition of this and to celebrate 20 years of Enviroschools in Marlborough, our Environmental Education team explored some options to give back to the community. The result being a Nature Exploration Space. After identifying a location and having an initial meeting it was time to come up with ideas of how it could look. Who better to ask than the tamariki themselves. With a...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

August 30, 2025

Enviroschools stories General

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...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 18, 2025

Enviroschools stories General

Nature Walk

When we think about Nature Connection most of us would instantly think of being in the bush somewhere. But in term 4 last year Seymour Kindergarten tamariki discovered that a walk around the block can tie in all the Pathways to Nature Connection. What are the Pathways to Nature Connection? A deepened nature connection experience is achieved through the 5 pathways - sense, emotion, meaning, beauty and compassion. Hill rolling at Lansdowne Park Seymour Kindergarten tamariki have been exploring these by using their senses - smelling the flowers and touching the lambs ears. Experiencing the enjoyment (Emotions) of rolling down a grassy mound in Horton Park or the excitement of watching a bumble bee...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 3, 2025

Enviroschools stories General

Nature connection sharing

Nature Connection programmes have been growing in Marlborough, especially in Kindergartens. Recently environmental educator for Marlborough District Council, Ramona Millen and Marlborough Kindergarten Association Senior Teacher, Gwenda Jones shared how this has developed over the last two years and the benefits of Nature Connection for tamariki. Ramona supporting a Nature Connection session The New Zealand Association for Environmental Education (NZAEE) hosted a webinar where Ramona and Gwenda talked about the changes they have seen by supporting teachers and children to regularly spend time in nature in the Marlborough region. With a few prompts around observing, tamariki have been experiencing many ways to connect with nature. From walks around the block, to local parks...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 13, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Knowledge of Tānemahuta grows at Springlands School

If you haven’t been to Mckendry Park in Spring, it is something that you must do. Golden and white Daffodils dot the park, whilst spring blossom gently falls to the ground from the breeze of Tāwhirimātea, as if snow is falling. The students of Springlands school got to experience this magic as part of their learning about Tānemahuta. This term Ramona and Angela from our Environmental Education Team worked alongside Springlands School to put together a plan to learn about Tānemahuta and his presence within their school and surrounding areas. Tānemahuta is the guardian of all the forests and all the birds and plants that live there.

The plan that was put...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 12, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Ward School Nature Connection

After an introduction to Nature Connection at a workshop held by Ramona and Angela earlier this year, the idea of utilising an unused and wild area at Ward School grew in Nicole Cochranes mind. It came to fruition at the beginning of this term when she led a group of excited children beyond the normal school boundary. This was the first of weekly visits to explore and connect with nature. Each visit begins with setting up their ‘base camp’. Then they walk the perimeter to look for hazards that may have cropped up since their last visit. During their walk children pick up treasures – leaves, flowers, sticks, anything that takes their interest – to...

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 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

nature connection Tag