Waikereru Ecosanctuary trip turns Gisborne pupils into stream scientists

Lola Barwick (left) and Jemima Sheldrake, from Sonrise Christian School, were among the students who took part in a Wild Lab field trip provided by the Aurora Education Foundation. Photo / Rebecca Grunwell

Budding enviro-scientists from Gisborne schools headed to the Waimatā Valley last week to take part in Wild Lab Tiaki Taiao, a programme provided by The Aurora Education Foundation.

Twenty students from Central, Mangapapa, Riverdale, Te Hapara, St Mary’s and Sonrise Christian schools went to the Waikereru Ecosanctuary and Longbush Reserve where they got to explore a stream and learn about the mayfly (piriwai).

“They relished being outside in the wet, muddy outdoors, blowing away the cobwebs and soaking up exciting new learning in the isolated, wild Waimatā hills of Gisborne,” the Aurora Education Foundation director Karen (Sunny) Bush said.

“This grounding in the earth and in nature is so important to their wellbeing and to how they see themselves.

“The Waikeruru Ecosanctuary is a taonga, a local treasure, right on our doorstep. This communion with nature creates its own magic for children to learn through the nitty-gritty of doing.

The programme, funded by the Ministry of Education, is designed to teach children, as future kaitiaki (guardians), how to care for the environment.

Central School students Maddison Kennedy, Leandre Cordier, Jack Green and Reid Crane enjoyed a day out of the classroom at the Aurora Education Foundation Wild Lab field trip at Longbush Reserve in the Waimatā Valley. Photo / Rebecca Grunwell

Activities included identifying the mayfly in a stream as a way of measuring the health of the waterway.

First up was a visit from a lifelike mayfly model, an actress who spoke “mayfly” and acted out the story of the mayfly waking up and describing the problems it encountered, such as predators and water pollution.

Students enjoyed the hands-on learning in the creek looking for mayfly nymphs. Nets, containers and magnifying glasses were supplied and most students found a few nymphs, showing the waterway is in good health.

A group of primary school students look for mayfly nymphs and other insects in a creek at Longbush Reserve. Photo / Rebecca Grunwell

Wild Lab Tiaki Taiao facilitator Emma McFadyen told the children how the land had changed for the better due to extensive planting organised by Dame Anne Salmon and Jeremy Salmon, founders of the Longbush Ecological Trust, which focuses on restoring native forest, managing pests and running the Wild Lab educational programme.

McFadyden told the children about Ian Ruru’s Mauri Compass, a free resource which schools can use to gather data and generate reports for areas they are looking after around their schools.

“We had a great day with each student demonstrating strong leadership skills in their own ways,” she said.

“Their curiosity and inquisitive nature made for an engaging time and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the Waikeruru Ecosanctury with them.”

Turei, a student from Te Hapara School, said he liked climbing Pa Hill where he could see all-around ... the bush and trees.

“I really liked the whole visit,” he said.

Maddison, from Central School, said she loved learning about the mayfly.

Paringatai Liddicoat and Kyrhon Puriri, from Riverdale School, explore the stream at Longbush Reserve. Photo / Rebecca Grunwell

Berlin, from Riverdale School, enjoyed discussing the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous plants.

Bush said the world would be a better place with such passionate guardians to look after the land and awa (river).

“Wild Lab builds a solid foundation for our kids, enabling them to create a stronger ecological legacy they will be proud to hand on to the next generation.”