Schools from across Waikato and King Country brought their environmental education learning to Cambridge last week for the Enviroschools Conservation Week event.
Natalie Jessup from Tāngaro Tuia te Ora – Endangered Species Foundation with Te Miro and Wharepapa South school students, from left Charlie Campion, Henry Taylor, Daniella Harrison, Jimmy Watt, Riley Kennedy, Karlee Hayward, William Manion, Tom Mellow, Rupert Manion, Kate Mellow, Millie Orr and Daniella Harrison.
Students from Te Miro, Kio Kio, Te Awamutu, Paterangi, Wharepapa South, Te Pahu, Vardon, and Waikato Montessori gathered around Victoria Square, each eager to showcase what they’ve learned about sustainability.
The event is designed to bring together groups of students from schools and multiple community experts from around the Waikato to celebrate and be inspired by conservation and taking care of nature.
Enviroschools is an environmental action-based programme where students design and lead sustainability projects in their schools and communities.
Waikato Regional Council Enviro School representatives, Alex Daniel, left and Anna Cunningham in front of the Kauri protection stand. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Community experts – including Anna Cunningham, Natalie Jessup, Sirri Smith, Sara Taylor, Faith Haakma, Phil Margetts, and Shelley Urlich – led engaging, hands-on workshops on bird banding, stream care, kauri protection, and trapping.
They came from Tuia te Ora – Endangered Species Foundation, Waikato Regional Council kauri protection, Smart Water, Taiea te Taiao Ecological Corridor, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari and Kids in Nature – Hamilton City Council.
Waikato Regional Council Enviroschools facilitator Alex Daniel said the event had been planned for the actual Conservation Week from September 1-7 – but rain meant it was delayed seven days.
“Students left inspired – to plant more trees, care for streams, and share their learning with classmates,” she said.
Waikato has 220 enviroschools – 50 of them early childhood centres – and 55,000 students involved.
The vision of creating healthy, peaceful, and more sustainable communities relies on bringing together diverse skills, perspectives, and resources.
Building and maintaining a collaborative support network – each collaborator bringing something different – has been essential to the development of Enviroschools.
Te Miro School at Enviroschools Conservation Week. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Wharepapa South and Te Miro schools combined to protect kauri, from left, back row: Kate Mellow, Millie Orr, Riley Kennedy, Karlee Hayward, Danielle Harris, Aria Yeo, Henry Taylor, Ben Wellington. Front row: Charlie Campion, Jimmy Watt, Rupert Manion, Tom Mellow, William Manion.
