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Kids in Nature at BestStart Bader Street
This year, BestStart Bader Street has been involved in the Hamilton City Council initiative ‘Kids in Nature’ programme, where we have been learning about the living things around us, and how to care for them.
Our first activity at the start of the year was an excursion into the Mangakōtukutuku Gully, where we learnt about the native long-tailed bat (pekapeka) and the ecosystem of the Mangakōtukutuku Stream. Our next excursion was back to the gully, where we planted a large number of native trees, which helps encourage birds, combat climate change and helps to protect our waterways and landscapes. Recently, we had a local beekeeper visit us at the centre to talk about caring for bees, and we got to smell and touch beeswax and see the bees buzzing around in the hive.
We also had a wonderful opportunity with Aimee from the Hamilton City Council, who brought in her taxidermy possum, stoat, ferret, hedgehog and rat, where we learnt about predators surrounding us and how they affect our local birds, lizards and trees. Next term, we already have some plans in place with the programme, including learning all about lizards, which I am sure the tamariki will love. We are so privileged to be a part of this wonderful programme that provides amazing learning opportunities for our tamariki to gain a sense of responsibility and wonder for the living world around them.