Auckland school children camping out for conservation in pilot education programme

Date:  04 December 2013

A pilot camp created to foster young conservation ambassadors in Auckland will be launched on Monday 9 December 2013 by MP Nicky Wagner, Parliamentary Private Secretary for Conservation.

From Monday, 24 students aged 10 to 13 from a diverse range of schools across Auckland will spend three days on Motutapu Island in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.

Camp organisers Department of Conservation, Motutapu Restoration Trust and the Motutapu Outdoor Education Camp hope the pilot is a forerunner to more frequent opportunities to learn about conservation in a fun and active way.

Students will be involved with activities to develop their ideas around kaitiakitanga (or guardianship) of the environment, from land to stream to ocean. In practice, they will snorkel, swim, kayak, water test, bush walk and much more.

Department of Conservation Senior Education Advisor Pam Crisp says that by the end of the camp, students will have immersed themselves in a broad range of environmental and conservation experiences, and be well-placed to step up as environmental ambassadors in their schools and communities.

Photo opportunity for media

At 8:45 am Monday 9 December MP Nicky Wagner will be at the Auckand Downtown Ferry Terminal (pier 3b) to officially launch this pilot programme. In attendance will be all camp children, teachers and organisers, before they depart for Motutapu. 

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