Education Update: Hilary Hurst After a quiet winter - things have ramped up at the centre - with James Street School booking a total of seven days and also visits from Rotokawa School from Rotorua and the year 8’s from Tarawera High School. Term 1 is almost fully booked for next year. Currently the most popular activities are: “Making stuff” especially rat trap boxes - You can expect to see these trap boxes around James Street School and the adjacent Awatapu lagoon. “Weedbusting” Spring has meant an absolute overtaking of the bush area by the very invasive Montbretia - and the students are super [...]
Read MoreEducation News August 2021: Hilary Hurst INTRO Hi from Hilary -the new Educator at Manawahe. Christchurch born and bred, with 20 yrs in Palmy, I’ve now been in the Bay of Plenty for 10 years. I’m a semi-retired Science and Chemistry teacher with a strong interest in the outdoors, behaviour (human and animal) and kayaking. I’ve taught High School Science for 12 years and kayaking for over 20. I have also managed outdoor retail stores (including Alp Sports for those of you old enough to remember), competed in a few adventure races (Coast to Coast and Southern Traverse) and have completed a [...]
Read MoreThe Manawahe Ecological Community Centre has been buzzing with students since week 2 of the school term. Whakatane Intermediate school have taken on an exciting project. All 20 of the school classes are visiting for a day to learn about the importance of protecting our birds and bush and why we need to be doing pest control. Each class is making 8 rat traps to take back to their school to set up an extensive backyard trapping programme around the Awatapu Lagoon and the Riverside drive river bank area. The students will learn how to monitor a trap line, and then [...]
Read MoreEducation Report The last four weeks have been very interesting. The first part of the month saw the centre in full action with camps and keen students, to the last week where camps have had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 concerns. All camps have been cancelled for the rest of this term; however, the teachers are very keen to re-book for the end of the year all going well. The Sustainable backyards day didn’t go ahead; however, it was good to have Gail, Peter and myself do a few hours of maintenance and cleaning, without getting too close to each [...]
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Education Report It is interesting seeing how schools are reacting to Covid-19. There are some that are no longer going to have school camps and are looking for a day trip type activity, and others that are not restricted at all. Sadly, I have had the first cancellation that is connected to the $150 donation scheme. Schools seem to be managing this scheme differently. Things that have happened over the last month. Connected with Principals from Apanui, Allandale, Whakatane Intermediate, St Joseph's Whakatane, Paroa School. Schools are keen to have an Environmental programme in the school. Whakatane Intermediate has cancelled camps [...]
Read MoreEducation Report This month has given me a sense of normality having students back up at the centre. June has seen three schools return to the centre. Trident High School Great Barrier class had a great camp. They did some work in the food forest, helped with track clearing and setting up the auto traps with Peter. They also got to experience the Kokako block and Karaponga falls. Whakatane High School: Enviro group. We had the most amazing experience with Popokotea in the Kokako block. These students built trap boxes and also started the winter planting programme. SEC as usual are great [...]
Read MoreEducation Report It is nice to be in Level 2 and to be able to get out and about a little more. I have enjoyed being back in the bush, filling bait stations and checking traps as well as being involved in the health checks on KIWI. Tho in terms of actual work I am really starting to miss engaging with students. Schools are in a difficult situation; many are very keen to get their students to settle into the routine of school again. Although EOTC programmes can work, it is definitely more difficult under the level 2 guidelines, most enquiries are for [...]
Read MoreEnvironmental Educator Report The centre is up and running after the summer holiday. It has been good to get the place looking good and ready for camps. The garden survived the summer and is producing food. Achievements this month: School and house clean up in preparation for camps. Creating a weta/insect house out of pallet wood supplied by Glenns Glass. Meeting and working with Teresa from DOC, completing a community agreement to do the trap line in the Matata lagoon. NCEA Education for Sustainability planning for Trident Developing a different programme to cater for students that are returning to the centre. Establishing [...]
Read MoreI started in the role of Environmental Educator for the Manawahe Eco Trust on the 29th of October 2018. It has been an exciting and busy year. We had no schools booked for the end of 2018. This was good as it gave me time to understand the programmes at Manawahe and also come up with some ideas of my own. It was also a great time to market the centre. In 2019 schools have been involved in various different programmes encompassing many different activities - there has been 15 schools over 35 days, with 584 students and 157 adults accompanying [...]
Read MoreHi there Folks, It has been a busy first half year for me at the Manawahe Eco trust. I have really enjoyed the challenge of a new job in a new area of teaching as well as getting to know an amazing part of the Eastern Bay of Plenty. So far we have had: Over 280 Primary, Intermediate and Secondary students make Weta houses, start a food forest, be involved in pest control and trap checking, plant native trees, learn about minimal waste, be involved in rubbish clean up, blackberry and weed bust, build and start composting bins, team building activities. [...]
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