Harbour cruise for youngsters

Te Puke's Happy Times Childcare and Preschool went to sea recently, continuing their exploration of all things wonderful in the Bay of Plenty.

In all, 51 children, babies, teachers, parents and whanau had a wonderful day cruising Tauranga Harbour aboard the Kewpie.

The weather was beautiful and the sea so calm they were able to sail outside the harbour.

The learning experiences were abundant, first and foremost appreciation of the well-being of all concerned when boarding and disembarking a boat in a calm orderly manner and being made aware of the dangers of deep water.

To come into close contact with the huge container ships was an unforgettable experience for the youngsters and they found it fascinating to see Mount Maunganui from a totally different aspect. They saw families enjoying the beach in Pilot Bay and walkers as they tramped around the Mount.

The children saw people fishing, which tied in nicely with their programme discovering the natural world.

There were many friendly waves from sea to shore from all concerned.

The statue Tangaroa, Maori god of the sea, at the harbour entrance stimulated much interest and inspired many questions on culture and customs.

It was a worthwhile, enjoyable and educational day out and a lot of fun was had by all.