September 2016, issue 24
Welcome to Term 4!
Kia Ora,
The year is whizzing by and
Rotokare is as busy as usual.
Unfortunately we are dealing with
a mouse incursion at the moment,
so please remember to stop and
check for rodents before entering
Rotokare.
This is a bumper Education News,
it includes information around end
or beginning of the year camp
options at Rotokare, and also a
reminder of all the other things we
offer in our Education Programme.
Nga mihi nui,
Melissa Jacobson & Jen Puckey,
(06) 764 8500
[email protected]
www.rotokare.org.nz
Sparky returns to
Taranaki for a visit...
Another two lucky schools got to have Sparky the
one-legged kiwi visit them this year. The event is
organised by Eastern Taranaki Environment Trust
and is a collaboration between several kiwi
conservation groups. Students move around different
activity stations all focusing on different aspects of our
national icon. The star attraction, Sparky, travels down with his handler Robert from
Northland. Robert has a special permit to hold him, and sparky is an advocate for his
species at events such as this. Sparky lost his leg at a very young age by having it
caught in a trap. It was a great two days spent at Eltham and Kaimata Primary schools,
and two of the Rotokare Youth Ambassador’s were lucky to assist for the day. see
Cacia and Leon in the photos below:
Rotokare Education Team
www.facebook.com/rotokare
Today I went to Kaimata School to help
with Rotokare. When the first class came
we talked about kiwi eggs. Kiwi eggs are
Ambassador
massive compared to the kiwi. We also
Leon’s thoughts
looked inside a chicken egg with a
about Sparky
torch, I saw veins and an air bubble.
After that we went to see Sparky the kiwi.
Sparky is a 1 legged kiwi and will die if he is put in the wild
so we need to protect him. He likes strokes and is an expert at
finding worms. He ate 3 worms off my hand, and found
another three in the ground. Kiwis tap the ground to bring
the worms up to the surface. Kiwis have a good kick to protect
themselves from predators but Sparky can’t really do this. We
tested a tracking device and it worked. Last of all we tested a
trained dog to see if it would attack the stuffed kiwi and the
result was good. It was really nice to be able to pat Sparky
and see him in action.
Toyota and The Department of Conservation have teamed up to
create Kiwi Guardian sites around New Zealand. The idea behind
these sites is to get kids out and about enjoying some of the beauty
our regions have to offer. There are now 5 sites in Taranaki and on
Sunday the 11th September Rotokare officially became one of these.
All you need to do is log onto the DOC Kiwi Guardian website and
print off an activity map—which gives you a range of different activities
to do at each site. Once there you need to find the special password
on the TKG post, enter this into the website and you will receive a
medal in the post. Each site has a unique medal, and there are also
limited edition ones available - for example during conservation week.
So print off your map and come out to Rotokare to find our password!
NEWSFLASH!
Rotokare becomes a
Toyota kiwi
Guardian site...
www.doc.govt.nz/kiwiguardian
Rotokare Youth Ambassadors help out at
the Kiwi Guardian Opening
Babies!!
The Rotokare Youth Ambassadors had an action packed day on Sunday the 11th
of September with their second workshop. With our focus being ‘People and
History’ for this session, we were lucky enough to fit in a fieldtrip to Tawhiti
Museum, where Nigel Ogle gave us a great talk about the importance of story
telling and knowing, engaging and connecting with your audience. Following this it
was back to Rotokare for the completion of our workshop and to meet some of the
special volunteers who make Rotokare tick.
Our Wellington Green
Gecko’s have had babies
again this year! We currently
have 2 baby gecko’s.
Lizards are a great vehicle
for teaching about
adaptation!
The Rotokare Education Programme is made possible by
the generous support of these funders. We would also
like to thank the education volunteers for their
invaluable hands-on contribution, each term.
Subsidised Transport From NP to Rotokare
Rotokare and Jamo Hire have negotiated a great deal for New
Plymouth schools. 16 seater vans are available at a discounted
rate for schools to utilised on a visit to Rotokare of $100 + gas
for the day.
Contact Jamo Hire for
bookings on 06 765 4045
all
Rotokare Education News, September 2016, Issue 24
(06) 764 8500
S
C
[email protected]
H
O
O
C
September 2016, issue 24
Planning an end of
year camp, or maybe a
camp to kick off the new
school year?...Rotokare
has the activities for you
www.rotokare.org.nz
L
A
M
P
As well as our usual education programmes we have a number of other activities on offer
that work well for your end of year, or start of year camps/activity weeks. Below are a
few of the activities we run, or we can tailor something more specific to your needs—if you
would like any more details on any of them please do not hesitate to contact us.
SCAVENGER HUNTS
SURVIVAL GAME
Enjoy the beauty of our Reserve whilst working in teams to compete
in an around the lake scavenger hunt collecting answers as you
go - great for all ages.
An exciting game, designed to simulate food chains, trophic levels,
and ultimately animal survival. It is an outdoor, physical game
where players take on roles (herbivores, omnivores, carnivores,
natural disasters and human).
DUSK REFLECTIONS & NIGHT TOURS
Animals must search for food and water while trying to stay alive
for the duration of the game (1-2 hours).
The forest is alive at dusk, with the daytime animals starting to seek
refuge for the night and the nocturnal ones starting to stir. We offer a
contrasting programme that is filled with reflective and quiet activities.
Experience the wonder of the forest at night...listen for kiwi & ruru,
spot some night-time invertebrates including glow worms & weta,
search for the kōura’s glowing red eyes in the stream, and experience
our unique nocturnal geckos.
This game is suitable for year 4 and above, and up to 30 students,
final numbers must be communicated to the environmental
educator before your visit to ensure the right role ratios are
prepared.
ARTISTIC ADAPTATIONS
Fusion of science and art activities around plant and animal
adaptation.
SOCIAL ACTION
NEED SOMEWHERE TO STAY?
Why not come out to the Reserve and volunteer with some of our daily
tasks? This could include putting out or collecting in tracking cards, potting
and replanting seedlings, fence checks, trap baiting...our list of tasks are
varied and extensive and we are always keen for more help! Social action
can be teamed up with any of the other activity options we have
Eltham Presbyterian camp is conveniently located in Eltham
— just 12km from Rotokare Scenic Reserve.
http://www.elthamcamp.co.nz/
Your class will also receive a certificate for volunteering
You are able to camp at Rotokare, however there is a limit on
numbers and the facilities are limited (toilets/cold outside
shower), please get in touch if you are interested in this option.
September 2016, issue 24
Rotokare is a living classroom, offering students from early childhood right through to
year 13 hands on bush and water experiences. Students experience wildlife encounters
and gain an appreciation or rare and uncommon plant and animal species. Our fully
curriculum linked Ministry of Education (LETOC) Programme is delivered by
experienced specialised educators. Excellent resources, interactive bush classroom
and historical education centre all add to the experience
(Y11-13)
NCEA Options
We also offer some specific
programmes aimed at the
following achievement standards:
1.12 Investigate the biological
impact on an event on a NZ
Ecosystem
2.6 Investigate a pattern in an
ecological community (Stratification)
2.6b Investigate a pattern in an
ecological community (Where have
all the kereru/ robin gone?)
3.2 Integrate biological knowledge
to develop an informed response to
a socio-scientific issue (The 1080
Debate)
A taste of the Rotokare
Education Programme
Classes receive a 2 hour teaching block,
followed by either a guided or self-led walk
around the lake or an alternative activity such
as social action or the Survival Game. We can
cater for up to 2 classes a day, with classes
swapping over at lunch time.
(06) 764 8500
Teacher Support

Short teacher presentation of education
programmes at staff meetings/TOD’s

Easy booking system

All Health and Safety Information, including full
RAM forms on our website

Planning sessions at Rotokare, or at school

High quality cross curricular resource packs
[email protected]
www.rotokare.org.nz