Meet our “rockstars” - the Karioi education team! This term, our team worked with Raglan Area School to deliver out-of-classroom adventures to Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo, as well as a predator control short-course for year 11 NCEA credits. 

The team has also been busy running after-school programmes (Karioi Kids and Rangers) and school holiday programmes for kids aged 6 - 12 years. Val, one of our passionate outdoor educators, shares a few adventurous stories from term 2.

For many people, a trip to the ocean involves surfing, a suntan, or maybe a picnic on the sand. The students of Te Rōpū, however, had a different experience this week. As part of their weekly program with the Karioi project, the Te Rōpū students immersed themselves in nature, using their outdoor classroom to learn about the interrelationship of all living and non-living things. The values of kaitiakitanga are at the forefront of the program while students discover the intricacies of nature and how we can protect and enhance our environment. Tamariki ventured to Whale Bay to gaze in tide pools, explore rocky outcrops, and have personal close contact with crabs. The surf was wild and thundering in the background while the students counted species at various tidal levels and spent time investigating the area. Exploration and immersion are the themes of the weekly sessions as the students enjoy and learn about the environment and our interconnectedness.

A committed group of year eleven students from Raglan Area School abandoned their desks and classroom walls to brave wild west coast weather for a 3-day intensive course with the Karioi Project. Through hands-on learning, book-work, and walks in the elements, the team unraveled the story of pests in New Zealand and explored the ways in which we, each of us, can have a positive impact on biodiversity. The students mastered the intricacies of setting and deploying traps, while exploring the foothills of Karioi. They considered the pros and cons of various trapping methods, practiced trapping skills and earned 14 NCEA credits. Through their dedication and hard work, the students developed confidence, teamwork, and an enhanced appreciation for the challenges faced by NZ wildlife due to invasive pest species. Many pests were caught in both the forest and urban environments, including mice, rats, and hedgehogs. With each pest removed, the students secured a better chance of survival for native wildlife to move us toward a thriving ecosystem.”