Scavenger eco-hunt goes down a treat with families

Wiremu Dunster-Todero, 7, (left) and Warwick Dunster learned about the Arrc Wildlife Trust with Liza Schneider at a scavenger hunt on Saturday. Photo / George Novak

Warwick Dunster and his brother Wiremu learned a lot about Tauranga and the environment at the Sport Bay of Plenty Scavenger Hunt on Saturday.

The event was held in conjunction with the launch for Sustainable Backyards Month and Envirofest at Mount Drury.

Sian Dunster took her children to the scavenger hunt and said it occupied their full attention for an hour-and-a-half - almost unheard of.

"The kids loved it. I had four with me, the two girls went off together and so did the two boys. They had 10 questions they had to answer. They were given clues and had to find a mark to get the answer.

"Normally they get bored with something that takes that long, but they enjoyed it."

Miss Dunster said one of the questions involved the children having to climb to the top of Mt Drury and finding a sign there to let them know how far it was to New York and Mayor Island.

"They also had to do a rubbish game to teach them how long it takes for things to degrade, like glass bottles and disposable nappies. It was good because everything related to the environment and ways to look after it."

Miss Dunster said she quizzed the children on the way home about things they had learned, and the children were able to answer.

At home, Miss Dunster said her family recycled regularly but after the scavenger hunt and other Envirofest activities, they have now decided to build a worm farm.