Rangers for a day enjoy big day out
Date: 01 December 2008
After three cancellations due to weather, the winners of the Department of Conservation (DOC) 'Ranger for a Day' competition, held during Conservation Week, got to collect their prize.
Stella Ivory, from Hikuai School and Harrison Hughes from St Francis School Thames, got a day off school on Friday, having instead, work experience with three DOC rangers. Both Stella and Harrison brought along their grandmothers to share the experience.
The day started off with the junior rangers meeting Rob Chappell, Ranger - Marine / Islands, and Susan Bryant, New Zealand Dotterel Watch Ranger, at the Whitianga wharf. Once introductions were made, the pair was split up, Stella heading out to the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve with Rob on the DOC vessel - 'Kuaka' and Harrison went with Susan to check out some dotterel breeding sites.
Harrison helped Susan find a new nest at Simpsons Beach; while Stella checked out the boundaries of the marine reserve, Cathedral Cove and the snorkel trail at Gemstone Bay. After a hearty lunch, the junior rangers swapped places. Harrison took a ride on board 'Kuaka' and Stella helped to rope off the new dotterel nest found by Harrison.
Rebekah with Harrison and Stella
Organiser of the day, Community Relations Ranger, Rebekah Caldwell said "Stella and Harrison were really great, full of eager questions and heaps of enthusiasm. It's fantastic to see children like them who care so much about their environment; they are an example to us all."
The children also received a bag, full of books, stickers, a weed busters t-shirt, thanks to Environment Waikato, and a wind up little blue penguin.