Learning in the great outdoors

Birdtalk Magazine Dec 2023 & Jan 2024
WHAT a great day linking “Outdoors” class learning to our local outdoor classrooms. We started with a spot of community service at the Awakino tunnel reserve picking up rubbish and doing our little bit for the environment.

Our journey then continued to the Mokau boat ramp for morning tea. Mr Draper and Aidan then did some ‘drag netting’ to catch some bait for our final activity. Catching a few here, we then tried the other side, unfortunately, this time catching a few undersized flounder that were returned.

Next stop, we set off to Tongaporutu for a hikoi along the coastline, past the Three Sisters (two standing) and down the coast until we couldn’t go any further. Exploring the many caves, rock pools and scenery, before heading back to the carpark.

Mr Draper and Miss Ball then accompanied the students with the ‘survival water treading’. A few shallow bits along the way, some tackles and then a quick lunch before heading back to Mokau for our fishing lesson. Zane, Caleb and Kiriwai were lucky enough to each catch a fish. Aidan and Te Wano were also successful at catching our bait dragging the net after four ‘drags‘.

A huge thank you to Miss Ball, Mr Draper and the amazing YR9 students who chose this experience.