Treemendous Education Programme

TREEmendous originated in 2007 as a partnership between Project Crimson and the Mazda Foundation. The initiative has helped more than 50 New Zealand schools, with over 39,000 native trees and shrubs planted to create interactive outdoor learning spaces.

Over the years, it has become clear that many schools need more than one area for outdoor learning and TREEmendous saw opportunities to turn the entire outdoor areas of individual schools into learning environments – helping to increase overall environmental literacy.

With the help of Mazda Ambassador Ruud ‘the Bugman’ Kleinpaste, the initiative has been refined to create the TREEmendous Education Programme, which aims to inspire students, promote environmental education and encourage more hands-on learning in schools.

The five winning schools for the 2021 TREEmendous Education Programme were: Karetu School in Northland, Riverina School in Auckland, Wainui Beach School in Gisborne, Waitara East School in Taranaki and Whanganui Intermediate School in Manawatu.

Each school received a visit from naturalist Kleinpaste and marine biologist Dr Riley Elliott, who inspired and encouraged all the students in each school to consider the importance of our environment and what they could do to preserve it for future generations. Kleinpaste spent a second day with teachers to focus on each school’s specific needs, help identify ways to use their outdoor areas as teaching tools and advise on their environmental projects.

Each school also received $1,000 to go towards their environmental project, plus 200 native trees for the school grounds from Trees That Count. Applications are open for primary and intermediate schools to apply for a TREEmendous Education Programme for 2022.