Toyota Kiwi Guardians for schools and groups
Introduction
Information for schools and groups about how to use Toyota Kiwi Guardians.In this section
The page provides information for teachers and group leaders to:
- easily link a Toyota Kiwi Guardians activity with wider conservation education resources to support student learning
- apply for certificates for your students to encourage their environmental actions.
Who should use this
Teachers and leaders of groups with more than five children doing a Toyota Kiwi Guardians adventure or action. Examples of groups include: a school class, scout group, after school or holiday programme.
The groups who have completed Toyota Kiwi Guardian adventures or actions have told us they want rewards that are timely and easy to apply for. Based on this, we've developed an easy redemption process specifically for groups.
Redemption process for schools/groups
While planning an activity contact us on kiwiguardians@doc.govt.nz to tell us:
- the number of children undertaking an activity
- the name of the activity, and
- when you are undertaking the activity.
We can then ensure there is sufficient stock on hand.
We'll send you a double-sided certificate for each of the children in your group, and the group will receive one wooden medal.
The double-sided certificate includes redemption information for the guardian of the child, if the child wants to be sent their own wooden medal (as per individual child/parent rewards structure). If a child applies for a medal from home, then our standard terms and conditions will apply.
Keep up to date
Show us your #kiwiguardians with photos of your nature adventures.
Like and follow Kiwi Guardians on Facebook for real time information, new events, new medals and everything else so you never miss out!
Kiwi Guardians sites are chosen for their appeal and accessibility for children, making them an ideal gateway into further learning experiences in, about and for the environment.
What is conservation education?
Our Conservation Education pages introduce educators to conservation education and why it's important, with guidance on how it can be incorporated into your school curriculum. You can also search our education resources by learning level, learning area or topic.
Many other organisations create content to support conservation teaching and learning in New Zealand:
Contact us
We're always improving Kiwi Guardians and would love your feedback about the programme or a specific site. Email kiwiguardians@doc.govt.nz.
Toyota Kiwi Guardians terms and conditions
|
Medal name |
Purpose of medal |
Conservation action |
Link to DOC education resource |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Curious Camper |
Get out camping |
Spending time in nature has positive effect on our health and wellbeing. Camping is a great way to get outside and into nature. You can camp out in your own backyard on a fine night, or head to your nearest park/reserve. No matter where you go camping you will sure to have fun doing these fun activities.
|
|
|
Toa Tiaki wai |
Water champion |
Show your kiwi backyard some love by helping to clean a water source be it a stream, river or beach. Find a water source near you – be it a stream, a river or a beach, get your parents involved and get messy to clean it up! Either before or after you do your clean up, find someone in your community who can tell you why this water source is important to them. This could be local Māori, a community group or anyone else that has a connection to that stream, river or beach. Let other people know what you have learnt about the water source and why it is important to keep it clean!
|
|
|
Toa Tiaki Taiao / Nature champion |
Go outdoors |
Get out and explore the places near you, or do some research about a species you think is pretty special. Think about what you love about this and want to share. Create and share a poster, website, piece of art or a video. Do a presentation to a group of people. Take someone new to visit a place that is special to you. Let other people know why what you are showing or telling them about it is important, and what they can do to help protect it.
|
|
|
Habitat creator -Lounge lizard |
Attract lizards to your garden |
Lizards enjoy hiding between cracks and under cover so any natural or found objects will provide great opportunities for designing a lizard habitat lounge. All native lizard species are protected by the Wildlife Act and may not be captured, collected or deliberately disturbed without a permit issued by DOC. Generally lizards may only be kept in captivity or collected for scientific, educational or advocacy purposes. Getting to know the habits of these secretive critters in your own lizard-friendly backyard is a far more rewarding alternative! |
|
|
Pest Detective |
Citizen science |
Build a tracking tunnel. A tracking tunnel is easy to make and records what is living in your backyard. In the bush, DOC rangers use tracking tunnels to record where small animals pass through. Pests like tunnels so they scamper in to get the bait and then leave their footprints on the paper as they pass through. The footprints show what animals are there and where the animals will feed.
|
|
|
Weta motel |
Invertebrates |
Create a wētā 'motel' in your backyard! It's a home for wētā to crawl into, to protect them from being eaten by introduced predators like rats, stoats, cats and hedgehogs. Explore your garden and see if you have some wētā already. Find out what kind of wētā you have, or what kind of wētā like to live in your area. Think about what would make a great wētā home – this will help you work out where to put your wētā motel.
|
|
|
Weed warrior |
Plant pests |
Help stop the spread of weeds in New Zealand. Weedy plants are one of the greatest threats to New Zealand’s parks, reserves, coasts, bush remnants, wetlands and alpine areas. Most of these are plants that have ‘jumped the garden fence’ and gone wild.
|
|
|
Wildlife protector - biosecurity |
Biosecurity |
Help protect New Zealand’s unique ecosystem by building a biosecurity checkpoint for your family/friends. Earn a Kiwi Guardians medal for becoming a Wildlife Protector. New Zealand is home to a wide range of plant/animal species that are found nowhere else in the world. Invasive diseases can be a big issue as our species haven’t evolved to protect themselves from them. Do your research on:
|
.
|
|
Toa kaiwhakataka - Expedition Leader |
|
Ensure you and your family/friends have a safe and enjoyable expedition by planning ahead of time and taking the necessary supplies. Earn a Kiwi Guardians medal for becoming an Expedition Leader. Going for a short walk is a great way to exercise, explore nature, and spend some time with your family/friends. Ensure you have a great time on your expedition by planning ahead of time and following the five simple rules of the Outdoor Safety Code (external site) to help you stay safe. Plan to have as little impact as possible on the environment, other people and heritage relics when enjoying activities. |
|
|
Toa Manu – garden bird surveyor |
Citizen Science |
Be a part of the annual New Zealand Garden Bird Survey, so we can learn more about our feathered friends. Complete the garden bird survey Build your own window protector
|
|
|
Toa tiaki rākau – Tree planter |
Planting trees |
Help New Zealand with its goal to plant 1 billion trees by 2027 and learn about the role they play in protecting our country. Earn a Kiwi Guardians medal for becoming a tree planter. Trees are one of the most important parts of a healthy ecosystem, providing food and shelter for wild animals, whilst also filtering out harmful substances from the air around them, and providing us with oxygen.
|
|