Southland Community Nursery, Otatara Landcare Group and Kiwi Conservation Club (KCC) teamed up for an exciting Eco-Fun Day on 11 December 2016.
The event started at the Community Nursery Education Centre where keen families picked up their Eco-Passport in which to record their stamps for activities.
The idea was to get outside and explore nature at Rances and Bushy Point. Activities included identifying bugs and plants and discovering the uses of some plants also becoming a legend alongside Otatara Landcare Group members and plant another tree in this forest in the making. Each plant had a number and after planting them children measured the height of their numbered plant and their own height to keep a record of growth in future years. Bushy Point is a “forest in the making“ and also a site where you can see conservation in action – you can visit the area any time from the public access and walkway on Bryson Road. There have been over 25,000 native plants planted here in the past 6 years - all by volunteers.
Families also saw what life lives in the pond (koura and damselfly larvae were pulled out of the nets), and children played games and learned all about pesky possums and other pests.
A lot of fun was had as well as learning about all the creatures that live in our own backyard – thanks to everyone who attended.
KCC is a childrens conservation club you can join at www.kcc.org.nz – you will receive 4 copies of the “Wild Things” magazine as well as being able to enjoy local outings – contact local KCC Coordinator Bronwyn 213 0017, [Enable JavaScript to view protected content] for further details.
Chris
Posted: 22 December 2016
The Christmas Breakup 16 December 2016 - was a great occasion, as they all are, thanks to those who came brought something yummy to eat, decorated the tree and enjoyed good company for the last time this year. And a little bit of work was done. Thanks Alan for supplying the bubbles!
Hope you have a good Christmas and the nursery will be open again on Friday 6th January 2017!
Kind regards
Chris
Posted: 19 December 2016
Twenty three children accompanied by teachers and parents visited the Community Nursery on 6 December 2016. They divided into two groups – one group in the Education Centre with Dawn and Sally and helpers potting up tiny flax plants, doing bird matching games, the floor jigsaws and the wetland tunnel and the other group with Chris exploring the pond and bush areas. A mother duck proudly showed off her new ducklings by the pond, the net was pulled up and some damselfly larvae wriggled about in the tray, and children used their observation powers to hunt for sensory scavenger hunt items around the track. Tui were observed on the new red flax flowers and a moa was spotted near the birdhide! For more information on edukids visit http://www.best-start.org/centres/edukids-elles-road Chris
Posted: 6 December 2016
A gloomy rainy day didn’t deter Makarewa Playcentre families explore the SCN. Walking through the orchard and past the vegetable gardens highlighted the different foods that can be grown. The worm farm was really interesting with some children also seeing a black beetle and slaters. After some kai and exploration of the education centre, it was off around the track using our different senses to notice. Some trees were prickly while others were smooth. Everything was wet! Of particular interest were the pest traps, so we talked about how we want to keep our native forests free of pests like rats, stoats and possums, so that our native birds can grow and sing. The Makarewa Playcentre is going to be planting native trees around their centre so it was great to see what some of these look like. We potted up some seedlings, helping them grow big and strong. Bronwyn
Posted: 6 December 2016
Just over 50 Year 4 students from Otatara School visited the Southland Community Nursery to continue their learning about NZ native birds and their adaptations to the environments they live in. Five activities allowed the students to discover and learn about native birds. The photo matching game showcased the NZ natives that are found here in their backyard – Otatara, Southland, and discussion highlighted the different beaks that different bird species have, and some interesting facts about the shining cuckoo! The Bird Beak activity allowed hands on (or beak on!) experimentation of how birds have adapted different beaks and how these allow them to feed in different environments for different food sources. Habitats such as the forest floor (dirt, rotting log), streams, wetlands and estuaries (water), river bed (stones), and kowhai flowers had the students thinking. They learnt that the tui have a tongue! “What do I eat?” had students grouping the birds under insect, nectar and fruit eater headings, and then discovered what plants can be planted to attract these birds to your backyard. A walk around the pond and collecting nature (as a bird would) ended in the students building an amazing array of nests. The “Who Am I?” cards were used to figure out what bird was being described and the students, parents and teachers all learnt some interesting facts about our NZ native birds. To finish off the visit their artwork was congratulated with many of these class members receiving a prize from the Southland Community Nursery and Kiwi Conservation Club bird art competition. Bronwyn
Posted: 6 December 2016
