Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao seeks to foster native biodiversity through our tamariki and rangatahi. We run a free education programme for schools across the central isthmus of Tāmaki Makaurau, typically taking place at the park or reserve near your school that has significant biodiversity value.
Since 2025, Urban Ark has been offering its Schools Engagement Programme across the Albert-Eden, Puketāpapa and Waitematā local board areas. We deliver sessions adapted to work with STEM curriculums at late Primary (Yr 5 & 6), Intermediate (Yr 7 & 8) and early Secondary (Yr 9 & 10) levels. Our experienced and qualified educators combine hands-on learning with a strong focus on environmental science and acknowledgement of mātauranga Māori:
- Te Taiao – the environment
- Mauri tu – environmental health
- Taupuhipuhi – interconnectedness and interdependence of living things, habitats and systems
- Tūrangawaewae – identity and belonging, a place to put your feet, a place to feel empowered and connected
The centrepiece of the programme is a full school-day visit to a park, reserve or stream close to your school. We choose sites where restoration efforts aim to increase native biodiversity and help the land and waterways function as part of an ecological corridor for movement of native species through the urban landscape of Tāmaki Makaurau. The community is an invaluable partner in these efforts and we hope that more people come to recognise and appreciate the taonga on our doorstep.
Depending on the kids’ ages, practical instruction might include:
- Freshwater monitoring – testing water quality (pH, clarity, dissolved oxygen), identifying fish and macroinvertebrates
- Predator monitoring – using tracking cards and chew cards to identify animals by footprint and bite. Using trail cameras for visual ID
- Predator control – use of various types of traps, lures and baits
- Bird ID and monitoring –correct use of binoculars, recognising species and their calls, conducting 5-minute bird counts
- Terrestrial invertebrates – ID and monitoring bugs and creepy crawlies
- Pest plants – identifying weeds, learning about the ecological problems they cause and how to control them
- Native plants – identifying species and learning about their use in rongoa Māori (traditional medicine)
- GPS navigation – use of equipment and radio-telemetry monitoring
Programme sequence
The day-trip is bookended by educator visits to your classroom to help tailor the programme and then consolidate the learning. Repeat visits over several years allows for a sequential progression of learning with students building their knowledge base.
Initial discussion – if the programme is new to your school our educators will visit the teachers and/or school leadership to discuss how best to tailor the programme to the curriculum streams and interests of the class. We will discuss local sites which might be suitable for the programme.
Classroom pre-visit (1hr) – we visit the class to help prime the kids for the full-day park visit. We will introduce the tamariki to some of the concepts we’ll be discussing. This normally takes place about a week before the park visit.
Park visit (5hr) – the cohort travels to the local park for the school day. The tamariki take turns doing three activities (about 45min each) separated by morning tea and lunch breaks. Everyone gets to do each activity over the course of the day.
Classroom post-visits (1hr each) – our educators visit the school once or twice to help the class and teachers consolidate the learning and explore ways the class can make a positive environmental impact on the local park, their school and their home. These visits take place from one to six weeks after the park visit.
“I can…” Conservation Skills
Through active engagement in experiential tasks students will learn a new set of skills they can employ to make a positive contribution to conservation in Aotearoa.
A selection of ‘WALTs’ (We are learning to)….
Describe how plants and animals prefer certain habitats
Set a tracking tunnel to monitor animal footprints
Identify what pests are present by their footsteps
Use binoculars to identify birds
Identify common native birds and do a 5-minute bird count
Identify common native plants and their use in rongoā Māori
Identify common pest plants and describe the ecological problems they cause
Measure the clarity, pH, and flow rate of water
Identify common freshwater macroinvertebrates
Use a GPS unit to find a waypoint
Practicalities
Numbers – we typically take up to 45 tamariki each day on our park visit. If your cohort is bigger we can take the group over two or more days.
Weather – Urban Ark operates this programme throughout the school year. Each season has its benefits. We encourage the kids to embrace whatever the weather throws at us, though we appreciate that a sustained cold and rainy day isn’t much fun for anyone. We normally have a ‘rain day’ scheduled.
Getting there – we normally select a park or reserve close enough to school for everyone to walk. Where that isn’t possible we recommend hiring a bus or arranging parent car pooling.
Food and drink – tamariki should bring a water bottle and a packed lunch.
Contact
To discuss taking part in our Education Programme, contact [Enable JavaScript to view protected content], our education lead.