Enviroschool silver for Tiaki

Tu Kaha (left), Finlay, Elsie, Riley, Lucia, Loki and Anthony with their new Enviroschools sign. Photo / Supplied

Tiaki Early Learning Centre is sporting a new sign on its gate after receiving silver recognition under the Enviroschools Programme last week.

The Enviroschools Programme is an initiative supported by Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The council provides resources and facilitation support to Rotorua and Bay of Plenty schools and kindergartens keen to look after their environment.

The programme encourages schools and centres to regularly reflect on their journey and provides the Bronze, Silver, Green/Gold levels to work towards.

During the reflection students, teachers and parents gave feedback on how they have been protecting the environment.

Centre manager Gayle Bell said it was an engaging way for everyone to list the aspects of the centre that they found were eco-friendly and provided more ideas for next steps.

"The children were a key part of the process and have created artwork that shows ways in which we are caring for Papatuanuku.

"We celebrated both the silver recognition as well as Matariki at an overnight stay where parents and staff decided the next step on our journey would be to develop a vegetarian food plan for the children."

The centre already produces vegetables from its own gardens and eggs from its chickens.

Recycling, composting and worm farming are all part of the centre's daily activities.

Tiaki is now working towards Green/Gold recognition.

* If your school or kindergarten is interested in the Enviroschools Programme, contact Stephanie Macdonald on 0800 884 880 ext 8147.