Farewell to Sian Moffitt who has spent 7yrs as part of the Kids Greening Taupō programme
A full-circle journey with Kids Greening Taupō
My journey as part of Kids Greening Taupō (KGT) began in 2015 as a passionate year 13 student at Tauhara College in Taupō. I had just returned from the Kiwi Forever Programme (2014) and the Sir Peter Blake Young Environmental Leaders Forum (2015) when I heard about a new environmental programme starting up in Taupō called Kids Greening Taupō. I wriggled my way into the pilot project and ended up taking on four different roles as part of the Student Leadership Team. Two of those roles were the Official Student Photographer and the Kids Greening Taupō Logo Designer (alongside a local graphic designer from GOOD Design- now LEGEND). At the time I had been gearing up to head to university to study design and photography so these roles provided me excellent opportunities to develop my skills. The logo was to become even more important to me when I later (2019) started to work as an Education Coordinator. Wearing the logo which I designed as a student every day to work was extremely special.
Being part of KGT played a huge role in changing my desired course of study from Design and Photography to a Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology and Biodiversity, and Environmental Studies (P.S. I never looked back).
My first passion-based job!
Following half a year with KGT I had finished high school and was looking for summer work before starting my Bachelor of Science at Victoria University of Wellington (Te Herenga Waka- Wellington University). KGT meetings had been based at the Taupō Department of Conservation (DOC) and I had made some amazing contacts and connections there throughout the programme. I decided I would try my luck and ask around if there would be any available summer work at the Taupō DOC office. I went on to complete a two-month internship as a partnership ranger at the Taupō DOC office; in this time my passions for native flora and fauna flourished through incredible opportunities and experiences.
University life (or maybe extra-curricular life)
During my three years at university, I continued to grow my passion for conservation and the environment through various youth councils and opportunities.
In the summer before my third and final year of my undergraduate studies, I was selected as a Sir Peter Blake DOC Ambassador and volunteered as a Biodiversity (fauna) Ranger in Saint Arnaud, Nelson Lakes for a month. This work consisted of large amounts of pest control for wasps, mustelids and rodents as well as skink monitoring, analysing kiwi audio recordings, blogging and advocacy.
During my third year of university, I established Forest & Bird Youth Wellington, based on my experiences with KGT and the Collaborative Community Education Model. As part of Forest & Bird Youth Wellington I coordinated a youth council with 12 selected individuals aged 14-23yrs. In the first year of establishment we ran five events, one of which had over 100 university students in attendance- ‘Ngā Here: Many Connections’ a one-of-a-kind environmental networking event (which has now continued as an annual event continued on by the current team).
I was also given the opportunity to attend two of the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education conferences (2016 & 2018), as part of these I presented in three talks (two for KGT and one for Forest & Bird Youth), and represented youth on a panel for environmental education for sustainability.
During university breaks I remained involved with KGT activities, taking part in releasing/weeding of plants, pest control, storyboarding for a film, photographing events and helping with student speeches
Full circle
Nearing the end of my degree Thea approached me with a job opportunity to join her as an Environmental Education Coordinator. I have now been working with KGT since February 2019.
As an Education Coordinator I have been able to work with the kindergarten kids exploring their local ngahere, learning and connecting to their place from a young age. I have taught and been taught by primary school students during hands-on conservation and restoration activities, bush school and school trips- with them I will forever be learning more about our incredible environment (and all of the places Gruffalo’s can live). As for the highschool students- I am always proud and reminiscent, seeing their dedication shine through the hard years of social norms, peer pressure, and discovery.
Over the years I have also been lucky enough to coordinate three student leadership teams. A team which will always hold a special place in my heart, as I understand the impact that it can have on a student’s ability to lead and grow the bravery they need when working in teams and working outside of their comfort zone.
Additionally, as an education coordinator I have coordinated many local restoration projects, my highlights being the Waipahihi Gully Development Project and working with Taupō Nui-a-Tia College students at Motutāhae.
I have coordinated community events and teacher professional development, working collaboratively with many local programme partners, and environmental educators as part of the Taupō Environmental Education Collaborative.
My photography and design skills have come in handy over the years, especially in documenting our programme outcomes, and during the 2020/21 lockdowns which led to the creation of our hundreds of online resources for students, teachers, and the community.
I am so thankful to have been part of Kids Greening Taupō now for seven years, and to see the huge impact this programme continues to have, not only locally, but nationally and internationally now too! This programme has been a huge part of my life, it changed my career path (for the better), it has connected me into a network of incredibly inspiring people working in the education and environmental spheres, and has provided me a platform to build-up both online and on-the-ground environmental education opportunities locally.
I’m really going to miss this wonderful community of passionate, and dedicated individuals who work together to achieve greater things.
A huge shout-out must go out to:
All of the wonderful tamariki and rangitahi I have had the pleasure of working with, especially to my student leaders and rangers who I have seen develop over these past few years from shy individuals to strong leaders who have grown in their height, bravery and leadership skills. I am so very proud of every single student who has engaged with our activities, shared their knowledge with others, supported one another and gotten stuck in to help restore the environment.
To the teachers I have been so grateful to have worked with and supported- you are doing an incredible job and your students are so lucky to have you as a mentor showing what it means to be a kaitiaki. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed, the many hours you spend ‘after hours’ planning, marking and thinking about your work is massive and you all deserve to be celebrated!
Our programme funders, sponsors and supporters who have believed in the mission of Greening Taupō and Kids Greening Taupō and have supported us with resources, tools, man power and the finances to be able to provide the incredible environmental education opportunities that we coordinate. Shout out to Contact Energy who have funded my position over the past few years- I am eternally grateful.
To the volunteers who we are so lucky to have in our community. They offer their time, their skills, knowledge and care to our programme to improve and restore the local environment and education.
Last, but definitely not least- my team. I have never worked with anyone like you all. You are passionate beyond explanation, you are not afraid to work hard, and show everyone what it means to be kaitiaki. Taupō is so lucky to have you all and I will miss you greatly.
For me this marks the end of a long journey within Kids Greening Taupō, moving on to new adventures down south in Ōtautahi/Christchurch. I am so excited to see what Kids Greening Taupō continues to achieve and will be back to visit I’m sure!
“Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari taku toa i te toa takitini”
“My success is not mine alone as it was not the work of one, but the contribution of the collective.”
Ngā mihi nui,
Sian Moffitt