Posted: 23 August 2006
50 to gather at Regional Enviroschools hui
About 50 students, teachers and environmental educators from around Northland are to gather at Kerikeri next week (Thurs 31 August) for an annual Enviroschools hui.
The Northland Regional Council – which played a key role in bringing the Enviroschools programme to the North in 2003 – says representatives from all eight Northland schools which have signed up for the three-year Enviroschools programme will take part in the Thursday (31 August) event.
Enviroschools is a whole-school approach to environmental education, encouraging student-driven action, based on sustainable management of resources in several key areas of school life. The nationwide programme originated through Hamilton City Council in 1993.
Susan Karels, an Environmental Education Officer for the Regional Council, says hui participants will be sharing success stories, carrying out team-building and decision-making exercises as well as investigating ways to prioritise environmental projects.
She says with more than 30 students taking part, the annual event will also include some fun activities, albeit with serious environmental messages.
Three of the participating schools - Russell School, Onerahi School (Whangarei) and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rawhiti Roa (Whangarei) – this month (August) completed three years of the Enviroschools programme.
The other five – Ahipara, Oturu and Kaeo Primary Schools in the Far North, Otamatea High School and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro (Kaitaia) – joined the programme in March this year.
Mrs Karels says the Regional Council is the programme’s regional co-ordinator, with Ministry of Education teacher facilitation group TEAM Solutions providing two facilitators; Carol Young and Maiki Marks. (crrct spls Maiki Marks)
Principles guiding Enviroschools include sustainable resource management, an Environmental Education/action-focused approach, students driving the programme, respect for cultural diversity and Maori perspectives.
Enviroschools is anchored in the school curriculum, building the ‘Ministry of Education Guidelines for Environmental Education in New Zealand Schools’ into the life of the school and its wider community. Zero waste, healthy water and enhancing the physical surroundings of the wider school community are among the programme’s most popular themes.