Glendowie School Welcomes Treemendous Environmental Education Initiatives

Auckland’s Glendowie School is undertaking a series of hands-on outdoor education projects to provide students with a better understanding of their local environment.

Ruud “the Bugman” Kleinpaste and Dr Riley Elliott, Shark Scientist visited the school as part of the 2022 TREEmendous Education Programme – an initiative funded by the Mazda Foundation.

Kleinpaste and Elliott took the students through an interactive learning experience highlighting the importance of each animal’s role in our eco-system.

Separately Ruud spent time with teachers providing advice about how to enhance future environmental projects and utilising the outdoor environment as part of their curriculum and create a “Living Garden” to increase the biodiversity unique to Aotearoa.

Glendowie School also received $1,000 to go towards an environmental project of their choosing as well as 200 native trees from Trees That Count for their school grounds.

Rose Phillips, Glendowie School Environ Coordinator says it was an incredible opportunity to have Ruud and Riley at the school to teach students about the significant impact humans are having on the living world.

“Wetas crawling over students and spiders crawling over Ruud are a sure way of engagement in the topic of Invertebrates!”

“What's more, the students were able to learn so much about the relationships between animals and the environment. Both Ruud and Riley are passionate about their areas of expertise, and it was hard for anyone (including teachers) not to love what was being taught.”

Kleinpaste says it was a pleasure to work with teachers and students who are passionate about starting their own environmental initiatives.

“We went through a number of ways they can use their school grounds as an outdoor learning area, especially on the coastal foreshore with the school being so close to the sea.”

“I’m very excited about Glendowie’s “Living Garden” project. It is great to see initiatives like this getting started so future generations can experience New Zealand’s natural environment.”