Kids a little wilder this school holidays

March 20, 2017

Kids a little wilder this school holidays

There won’t be any pig hunting, but the Wilderkids school holiday programme will still be a little bit wilder than the rest.

Kids will be investigating bugs, birds and bees, making seed bombs and building bee hotels and tree huts while school’s out next month.

Wilderkids is a new programme run by Sustainability Trust and inspired by the resurgence of forest kindergartens. It aims to get kids connecting with nature and learning about sustainability in a hands-on way.

“We think it’s important for kids to learn about the natural world to understand their place in it, and its value, and understand why we need to take care of it,” says Sustainability Trust educator Kim Tabrum. “But we can also have lots of fun doing that.”

The programme is based at Innermost Gardens in Mt Victoria but children will be going walkabout in Wellington’s Town Belt most days, rain or shine.

“Wellington Town Belt is a green space right on our urban doorstep that invites kids to play, use their imagination and feast on rich pockets of biodiversity without leaving the city,” says Tabrum.

Each day will have a different theme and set of activities, from making musical instruments out of found objects in the bush to hunting for the tallest tree in the Town Belt.

“It’s an opportunity for all kids to find their connection with nature. I love how kids can turn, for example, a stick into an experience.

“I also love that everything in nature has a place, every part of a forest is a home for some creature, fungi, plant and when kids begin to get this you see a change in their approach and feelings toward nature.

“Kids connecting with nature is not just about being outside – it’s a connection to something greater than themselves which facilitates curiosity, care, and community.”

Wilderkids is being run for the first time in April and will now be a regular offering during school holidays.

What: Wilderkids school holiday programme
When: April 18 to 28 (see website for specific days and times)
Who: Kids aged 5 to 12
Cost: $50 a day per child, full week bookings $45 per day
Bookings: http://www.sustaintrust.org.nz/wilderkids

About Sustainability Trust

Sustainability Trust provides solutions for sustainable living. We help people create warmer homes and reduce their impact on the environment. We’re Wellington region’s energy efficiency experts, providing advice and selling products which result in drier, healthier homes. All profits are invested into award-winning community programmes that empower everyone to live more sustainably.

www.sustaintrust.org.nz

© Scoop Media