Hands on learning experiences with our local ECEs in Term 1, 2025

We love continuing our work with local Early Childhood Education (ECE) providers to give tamariki hands-on learning experiences about the environment! Through these fun and engaging activities, we’re introducing little ones to the wonders of nature, conservation, and sustainability. Whether it's planting native trees, exploring local habitats, or learning why it's important to look after our environment, these sessions are all about sparking curiosity and a love for the natural world. Below we share some of the experiences with tamariki and their great ECE providers we have facilitated this year so far.

Tamariki from Taupo Children's Corner on Lakewood Drive did a bug hunt recently in the Brentwood Gully and they were excited to find shiny Tradescantia beetles. The weedy plants looked well munched, which was exciting for our coordinators, as we introduced these little biological controls over the past few years from Maeroa Intermediate School with St Patrick's Catholic School, Taupo and with support from Waikato Regional Council and Waikato Enviroschools. We weren't sure whether they would survive the cold Taupō winter, but they seem to have thrived. You can read more about this project here:

The tamariki at BestStart Educare Motutaiko helped New Zealand Biodiversity by sowing the seeds of the critically endangered Ngutukākā /kākābeak species, so named for the flowers which look like the beak of the kākā bird. These seeds were eco-sourced in Taupō from a few of the 150 plants found in NZ by the ecologist that looks after them. These plants are unfortunately loved by rabbits, deer, and other foliage eaters leading to their severe conservation status. Hopefully we will see some sprouts soon to help bring back this species of ngutukākā. In the midst of it all, we were visited by a friendly cockroach which added a bit of extra excitement to the lesson!

There were so many treasures to find out at Whakaipō Bay with My Treehut Cubby. Insects came to see us on our backpacks, fungi seems to spring up under our feet, and Ms. Wētā showed how fierce she is with her spiky back legs even though we gently put her back. When we learned we could eat cicada shells, one brave tamariki tried a leg. Though not everyone was so enthusiastic, and one child thought best he should prevent his friend from eating it!

A morning of learning was spent at Whangamata Stream with Taupo Family Playcentre. Using our net and bucket, we were able to collect water samples from the stream. When we took a close look, we saw there was so much life with many freshwater macro invertebrates (bugs you can see with your eyes) moving around. Having these macro invertebrates is a sign of a healthy stream, as they can only live in cold, clean, and clear water. They are also an important part of the stream's ecosystem as they are food for small fish, trout, and our birds.