24 teachers attend coastal workshop

The many environmental education opportunities offered by Northland’s coast have been highlighted to 24 teachers at Te Moana, a special Northland Regional Council workshop in Taipa this week.
24 teachers attended the coastal-themed teacher workshop held on 30 May.

Northland Regional Council Councillor Bronwyn Hunt says she was impressed by the attendees’ passion and commitment to improving their community surrounds through various coast-related projects.

“There’s a strong environmental focus to the projects, but in many cases there are also broader social, cultural and economic benefits and that’s great to see.”

The council’s Environmental Education Officer Susan Botting says the workshop stemmed from ongoing school interest in caring for the region’s 3200 kilometre coast.

Ms Botting says the workshop aimed to build on participants’ existing environmental education knowledge to help teach children to create and drive projects that care for the coast.

The wide-ranging workshop explored how environmental education efforts across a wide range of curriculum areas could contribute to improving the region’s sustainable resource management.

Teachers from 12 Northland schools attended – Blomfield Special School Whangarei and its Kaitaia satellite, Bream Bay College, Glenbervie School, Ngunguru School, Northland College, Opononi Area School, Oromahoe School, Pompallier Catholic College, Riverview School, Ruakaka School, Taipa Area School and Te Kura Taumata o Panguru.