Beyond the drive
POSTED ON 13/08/2023

The students at Devonport Primary School in Auckland are on a mission to help protect the planet and increase biodiversity with a project that will increase the tree wētā population at the school.

Project tree wētā was given a huge boost when Ruud “The Bugman” Kleinpaste and Shark Scientist Dr Riley Elliott visited the school as part of the TREEmendous Education Programme for 2023, an initiative from the Mazda Foundation.

Kleinpaste and Elliott spent the day with students and teachers to provide advice to students about their biodiversity project and help the school incorporate its conservation and environmental work into the curriculum.

Devonport School is one of five winning schools from around the country to each receive $1,000 to go towards an environmental project. The schools also receive 200 native trees from Trees That Count for their school grounds.

Senior Teacher, Helen Jaworski says both Ruud and Riley were incredible, but the extra day with Ruud was invaluable.

“We got to see our school through Ruud's eyes and he gave us so many exciting ideas for developing our Akomanga Ngahere and our Treemendous focus. Their visit left the school buzzing with excitement. We wish they could visit again.”

Ruud “The Bugman” Kleinpaste with students at Devonport Primary School

Kleinpaste explained to the students how each creature and object in the environment – everything from a bird, a tree, and a millipede – has a job to do in their habitat.

“The kids completely get that message and their faces lit up when the live insects and spiders came out of the box. Direct contact with these creatures adds so much to their nature experience.”

Elliott explained the importance role sharks play in our maritime ecosystems.  Unfortunately, climate change and other human-induced planetary ecological disasters put a lot of extra pressure on the well-being of sharks and we really need to make sure they thrive.

Kleinpaste and Elliott will visit the remaining winning schools over the next couple months to share their environmental knowledge and talk to students about their individual projects.

TREEmendous Education Programme is funded by the Mazda Foundation to develop and create exciting new ways to share environmental literacy in schools.

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