Urban Ark – Manawa Taiao runs an education programme for local schools in Te Wai Ōrea / Western Springs Lakeside Park and works with schools to foster native biodiversity through our tamariki and rangatahi.
Te Wai Ōrea Education Programme
Since 2023, Urban Ark has been offering its Te Wai Ōrea Education Programme to local schools. With initial funding from Waitematā Local Board and support from Albert-Eden Local Board 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 Te Wai Ōrea / Western Springs Lakeside Park, where ongoing 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
The Te Wai Ōrea trip is bookended by educator visits to your classroom. We typically start by engaging with teachers to tailor the programme to the curriculum streams and interests of the class. We then do an initial visit to prime the kids for the full-day class visit to Te Wai Ōrea. Subsequently 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 Te Wai Ōrea, their school and their home. Repeat visits over several years allows for a sequential progression of learning with students building their knowledge base.