The wind rain and hail didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the eco-fun events on Sunday 13 December 2015! The event was run jointly by the Community Nursery, Otatara Landcare Group (www.otataralandcare.org.nz) and Kiwi Conservation Club (www.kcc.org.nz).
While the venue for most of the activities may have moved inside the Education Centre building, there were enough fine breaks to still get outside and into Bushy Point to plant a tree, do a scavenger hunt and sail the boats. Pond dipping included finding tadpoles and koura which were taken back to the Education Centre for a close-up look.
Other activities inside the building included the wineberry verses elderberry and native plants quiz, identifying weta’s, spiders and huhu beetles, picking out the stoat from the weasel and major boat building activity. Each activity was rewarded by a stamp in the Eco-passport. The education Centre certainly proved its worth as a back-up venue for such events in the future. Thanks to everyone involved - the organisers and those who braved the weather to participate!
Posted: 14 December 2015
For our final event of 2015 come along and help us celebrate a very successful year. Bring along some yummy food to share and help make decorations for the Christmas tree. Parking at 183 Grant Road car park and follow the Community Nursery signs to the Nursery and Education Centre. Anytime from 9-noon - with morning tea around 10.30am. See you there. Chris
Posted: 14 December 2015
An action packed day for 27 Otatara School children was held at the Southland Community Nursery on 10th December 2015. A session of “work” helping out in the Community Nursery – potting cabbage trees and track clearing was followed by five separate nature activities. From drawing or modelling bugs, identifying native birds, sketching the landscape, doing a factfile on native plants on their iPads, to studying and recording insects found in the bush. It was full-on, with groups of 5-6 children, accompanied by a parent, moving on between activities every 20 minutes. After lunch and a run around the grassy koru, everyone headed for the “supersleuth” activity trail around Bushy Point. The weather was hot and windy and a contentedly tired group (the parents anyway!) departed by bus around 2pm.
On closing, students thanked Chris, Bronwyn and teacher Amy for putting together the day’s activities – “it was fun – it was like being on holiday” said one student. “And that’s the key for us – children are having so much fun outside, they don’t even realise they are learning!” said Chris
Posted: 12 December 2015
I was lucky to be present at an inspiring afternoon recognising Limehills School’s “Green Gold Award” held at the school on 11th December 2015. First the “guests” Mark Oster, Amy Kirk, Pat Hoffman, Gay Munro and myself were shown some of the amazing projects the students had been involved with over the last year for example – the nature area, the vegetable growing areas, the kowhai shed, with students explaining what they had achieved. This was followed by an assembly for the whole school where students presented their work and in turn Gay, Mark, myself and Ali Timms spoke about the schools excellent work in achieving their green gold award. The final speaker was Board of Trustees chair Pete Hammond who thanked everyone involved, but singled out Mark Oster’s contribution – we all agree with that sentiment. Pete’s comment that Mark could “make a grain of sand sound interesting” confirms my own view of what an absolute asset to outside the classroom environmental education Mark is, and we are very lucky to have such a person in Southland inspiring our young people. The afternoon was ended with a rousing waiata by the whole school – Mum enjoyed that too! And this was followed by afternoon tea. It’s great to be involved and contribute in a small way to their success.
Chris
Posted: 12 December 2015
About 25 parents and children came to the Education Centre to enjoy a final get-together for the year on Saturday 12 December 2015. Good food and good company, music as well as bubbles, walks and a bungy entertained the children. Alan Admore and his bubbles are always a great hit and of course Santa turned up on his sleigh just in time to give out some well deserved gifts!
Posted: 12 December 2015
