We have one place left for the Jo Ogier Art Workshop. Jo is a well know New Zealand Artist and the Community Nursery is sponsoring this weekend workshop to bring Jo down from Christchurch. The workshop is just $100 for two days. Further details are at http://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/education-centre/activities/workshops/
And if you would like to go onto a list for this or future workshops email Chris at [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Posted: 27 September 2017
The bus pulled in and it was exciting for the tamariki to be coming to visit the NZ jungle. We wandered through the orchard, past the vege gardens and stopped to check out the worms in the worm bath, the signs eventually taking us to the education centre. Exploration of the education centre, some kai and a story energised us for a sensory treasure hunt walk around the pond track, where we saw just how sticky the kohuhu seeds can be, felt how prickly totara leaves are, smelt the citrus aroma of tarata (lemonwood), listened to the birds and the rustling of the cabbage tree leaves, and saw evidence of small insects that live in the NZ bush on harakeke (flax) and in mingimingi. It was great to see the wonder as we touched the different plants - rimu, makomako (wineberry), kapuka (broadleaf), flax, ti kouka (cabbage tree) etc. Back in the education centre it was puzzle time and exploration of what was behind the doors in the tunnel. We found some “good for our native bush” things and some that are not so good (pests etc). We finished off learning the words and actions to the “kiwi bird” song. A great visit. Bronwyn
Posted: 25 September 2017
The Southland Community Nursery has been involved with helping and supporting rooms 11 and 12 of Otatara School (year 3) as they have learnt about and planted out the newly developed Scooter Park area. Chris and Bronwyn started out at the Otatara School (year 3) as they have learnt about and planted out the newly developed Scooter Park area. Chris and Bronwyn started out at the beginning of June 2017 walking the site coming up with suggestions and ways to engage the students in this project. Bronwyn then joined the classes for inquiry time and on a field trip to Queens Park and the ICC Parks and Recreation team learning about what plants to plant and where, developing a plan for the different areas of the Scooter Park, getting rid of unwanted plant pest species, estimating how many plants needed and learning how to plant a native. Plant lists and the enthusiastic plans of the students were checked and rechecked, and then 4 September planting started. Some year 6 students helped with the digging of holes, with a full day seeing all holes dugs and most of the plants planted (the rest were finished off the following week). The area looks fantastic and the year 3 students did a fantastic job. We look forward to seeing how these plants grow! Bronwyn
Posted: 25 September 2017
The Community Nursery will be open on the morning of Friday 22 September and all subsequent Friday mornings for volunteer nursery work. After the winter shut down there is plenty to do - firstly a good tidy up of the nursery and education centre and then we will get into full production - some seeds already poking through!
As usual its not all work! Bring along some kai for morning tea and renew friendships and make new ones! See you there - Chris
Posted: 20 September 2017
We were very lucky to have bat expert Catriona Gower (KCC South Otago) come and visit and run an awesome bat event for us. Sitting in the winter sunshine at the Southland Community Nursery we heard all about bats - what a bat is, the bats we have in NZ and their special features - their wings, knees, nocturnal, eating and roosting habits etc. The soft toy bats and puppets were a hit. It soon became clear that it is not that easy to find or see bats, so we became bat
detectives! We played “sneak up granny” using echo locators (instead of turning around) learning about and listening to the noises made at frequencies our ears cannot hear. It was then inside the education centre to make bat masks and colour in, hear more about bats and have a story. Then we turned into bats and moths playing a game using echoes for the bats to find something to eat! We finished with a quiz showing how much we had learnt about bats! Awesome afternoon. Thank you Catriona. Bronwyn
Posted: 18 September 2017
