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Town Belt Kaitiaki
Town Belt Kaitiaki (TBK) is a student-led education programme for Dunedin schools and ECE centres. I
Last week, ākonga / students of George Street Normal School had two wonderful afternoons at their newly adopted site in Prospect Park that they are looking after with Town Belt Kaitiaki assistance. We are still collecting baseline data - so the ākonga can see the benefits that their efforts will bring. It's also a great opportunity for some outdoor science, maths and training observational and listening skills. Over two afternoons, 80 tamariki listened to bird calls, recorded what their heard and also did vegetation quadrats in the bush edge of the plants living there.![]()
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It was all so much fun I forgot to take photos - sorry!
Excited TBK Student Leaders joined the matata/fern birds this weekend at Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau / Sinclair Wetlands. Our successful weekend led by Co-chair Finn included live moth capture and ID with Barbara, identifying pests by their tracks with Aidan and senior students, finding out about planting and pest control here at the wetland with Tim, a nature walk to Rams Island with Taylor, bird ID with Manaia and Jefferson, learning how to use iNaturalist with Maureen and Aidan - and of course the many speeches and voting for the SLT's new student leader roles! Now we're bonded again, we're looking forward to an awesome year of activities in the Town Belt together!![]()
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Many thanks to the Manager and Trustees of Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau for letting us stay at their facility to experience their lovingly restored wetland.
FINAL TBK ACTIVITY OF THE YEAR, TIME FOR REFLECTIONS![]()
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Last Thursday's weeding around the trees at Brackens Lookout was TBK's last town belt activity for 2023. Although we were small in numbers we were huge in mahi - with over 80 trees weeded and mulched with buckets of composting wood chips. Go us!![]()
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Coming up to the the end of the year is a time for reflection (and reports!). Despite starting later than usual this year, TBK has achieved a lot and is in good spirits.![]()
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Town Belt Kaitiaki is very much a collaborative effort - of ECEs, schools, groups, organisations and individuals with a common goal of "bettering" the town belt in ways that provide learning and student-led opportunities for young people. If you or your organisation has helped us this year - thank you! You're essential! You are too many to list in a Facebook post - but please know we are very grateful to you all!![]()
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Having said that - in particular...![]()
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Thanks to TBK's Schools/ECEs, Link Teachers and other teachers for getting on board to support tamariki to learn and take action outdoors in the Town Belt. ![]()
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Thanks to every TBK school student who has planted a tree, pulled a weed, written a poem, counted a bird or picked up rubbish in the Town Belt this year. Your worthwhile actions help our Town Belt to get the love and care it deserves. ![]()
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And thanks to the Student Leadership Team (especially our co-chairs). Your commitment, mahi, skills and wisdom have been inspiring. ![]()
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MERI KIRIHIMETE!
TOWN BELT POETRY GOES LIVE IN THE CUBE!![]()
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TBK loves to wax lyrical about the Town Belt. And now so do Year 9 English students from Otago Girls High School! ![]()
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As part of their English studies, these self-directed students worked hard this term to let the Town Belt bring out the poet within them - to create poetry and posters that they hope will inspire Dunedin's community to appreciate and care for our very special Town Belt.![]()
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Last week their MP4 presentation display went live in the Cube in Dunedin's Central Library. It's on a loop mixed with other happenings so to see it you will need to be lucky or wait very patiently! ![]()
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Town Belt Kaitiaki along with town belt expert Paul Pope are really happy to have supported this OGHS / TBK project.
Yesterday was International Volunteers Day - so I'm very pleased to post a photo of one of TBK's valuable and very likable volunteers. Thank you for your help - it's so appreciated!![]()
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Yesterday was certainly a busy day for teachers and students and TBK with over 100 tauira from Opoho School and Logan Park High School working at Bracken's Lookout. Our mission was to weed and mulch the 300+ trees that have been planted by schools there (especially Opoho!). In fact we had such a busy time that I forgot to take photos of all the student mahi that was going down!![]()
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Weeding and mulching will be finished next week by students from Dunedin North Intermediate school. Isn't all this collaborative mahi marvellous!![]()
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THanks to our TBK Volunteers who give so generously of their time!