PIOPIO Primary students view a kererū as part of the Rangatahi Pathways/DOC visit.
THE Department of Conversation visited Piopio Primary last week for a workshop with 50 year 5 and 6 students.
Featuring stuffed kererū as a display item, the visit was mainly about local wildlife but also covered careers at DOC.
Teacher Ruth Stokes said it resonated well with the youngsters.
“They were really inspired by what they’d learned about endangered species in our area,” she said.
“There was so much interesting content.”
Students learned about New Zealand’s three native frog species.
“These frogs don’t croak, and they can be black or green. The native frogs also don’t hop. When these frogs are born, they aren’t tadpoles, but the tiny froglets instead ride around on the backs of their dads,” the school newsletter reported later.
The kids also learned that NZ short tailed bats (pekapeka) spend much of their time on the ground eating insects; and all about the Māhoenui giant weta and its gorse farm habitat.
The visit was part of the Rangatahi Pathways programme, designed to develop and support young people in the Waitomo district with regards to future work and study options.
Students learned about DOC’s work in the Piopio area and about opportunities to work for the department after they finish school.
Ruth said it had been valuable for the youngsters to learn more about careers.
“It’s good to help them become aware of all the jobs out there, things that are different to what their parents do, or what they see in the community.”
“There are jobs they’ve never heard of”
Piopio principal Sue Coyle said the day had been enjoyable for both teachers and children.
The school offered “a massive thank you” to Rangatahi Pathways for facilitating this workshop and also to Julie and Osho from DOC for sharing their knowledge and experiences.
