Northland REGIONAL COUNCIL Te Kaunihera a rohe o Te Taitokerau Kudos to Kerikeri Growing great local science early childhood centre Removing grass carp from Lake Swan - Rachel Drysdale (left) with Northland Regional Councir Congratulations to Arohanui Early Learning Centre environmental monitoring officer Scott Lyon. for becoming the first early childhood centre in the Far North to achieve Bronze Enviroschools status. Searching for rare frogs using e-DNA, shorebird surveys, and removing grass carp from a Far North dune lake are just some of the experiences Whangarei Girls' High School everyone has been so welcoming and inclusive science teacher Rachel Drysdale has had as she's delved into the world of regional council science. monitoring, community and school education events and more. The Kerlkeri centre's kaupapa is connecting, caring for and respecting ourselves, each other, and the planet "No two days have been the same, and in allowing me to be part of their field work." Buiding community connections has been an incredibly valuable part of the experience says Rachel. Arohanui is committed to reducing waste and minimising water usage, and boasts a beautful toy-free space where the children play and create in nature. Rachel has spent the last six months with Northland Regional Council's biodiversity team, as part of the pressigious Science Teaching and Leadership Programme through the Royal Society use in real-world contexts, it's about seeing Te Aparangi. "As well as looking at the key skills scientists The centre is home to chickens and a vegetable garden, with tamariki able to collect eggs and veggies to share with whanau. Tino pail where our girls can take ownership of projects and contribute to their local environment in really meaningful ways through citizen science." "Our head of science, Suzie Scourfield, and Iembarked on this programme to ensure our science curriculum is anchored back to our As part of councils Enviroschools programme, Whangarei Girls' High School already had a strong relationship with council, which has been strengthened by the new connections Rachel has made across the organisation. place and community - Northland has a unique environment with many taonga." says Rachel. We want to empower our students to be scientifically literate in an ever-changing world and to be curious and engaged with what's around them. We also want to ensure our curiculum Rachel will head back into the classroom next term, though the Science Teaching and Leadership Programme continues for a further 12 months. gives mana orite to Matauranga Maori." Rachel's placement at council has seen her spend "That's when the rubber hits the road - we take time with many different people and projects, getting involved in shorebird surveys, estuarine species surveys, kauri dieback sampling, dune protection, freshwater pest fish control, wetland all of these incredible learnings and look at how we can apply that to our curriculum, grow scientific literacy with our students and inspire great science in our kura and our community." Dune planting season kicks off Planting season has begun for CoastCare groups around the region who are working hard to protect and restore our precious Weed workshops a winner sand dunes around Te Taitokerau. Our free annual workshops offering Northlanders tips on how to tackle some of the worst weeds threatening our Not only are these dunes home to precious native plants and creatures, they help protect against coastal hazards and erosion. region have proven popular once again. Nearly 100 people came along to hear from pest plant experts at the winter workshops last week in Dargaville, Kerikori, Coopers Beach and Whangärei. If you missed out, check out our pest control hub for advice! www.nrc.govt.nz/pestcontrolhub Keen to help out? Contact our CoastCare Coordinator to find a group near you. coastcare@nre.govt.nz Northland Contact your local councillor at www.nrc.govt.nz/councillors REGIONAL COUNCIL Te Kaunihera a rohe o Te Taitokerau Northland REGIONAL COUNCIL Te Kaunihera a rohe o Te Taitokerau Kudos to Kerikeri Growing great local science early childhood centre Removing grass carp from Lake Swan - Rachel Drysdale (left) with Northland Regional Councir Congratulations to Arohanui Early Learning Centre environmental monitoring officer Scott Lyon. for becoming the first early childhood centre in the Far North to achieve Bronze Enviroschools status. Searching for rare frogs using e-DNA, shorebird surveys, and removing grass carp from a Far North dune lake are just some of the experiences Whangarei Girls' High School everyone has been so welcoming and inclusive science teacher Rachel Drysdale has had as she's delved into the world of regional council science. monitoring, community and school education events and more. The Kerlkeri centre's kaupapa is connecting, caring for and respecting ourselves, each other, and the planet "No two days have been the same, and in allowing me to be part of their field work." Buiding community connections has been an incredibly valuable part of the experience says Rachel. Arohanui is committed to reducing waste and minimising water usage, and boasts a beautful toy-free space where the children play and create in nature. Rachel has spent the last six months with Northland Regional Council's biodiversity team, as part of the pressigious Science Teaching and Leadership Programme through the Royal Society use in real-world contexts, it's about seeing Te Aparangi. "As well as looking at the key skills scientists The centre is home to chickens and a vegetable garden, with tamariki able to collect eggs and veggies to share with whanau. Tino pail where our girls can take ownership of projects and contribute to their local environment in really meaningful ways through citizen science." "Our head of science, Suzie Scourfield, and Iembarked on this programme to ensure our science curriculum is anchored back to our As part of councils Enviroschools programme, Whangarei Girls' High School already had a strong relationship with council, which has been strengthened by the new connections Rachel has made across the organisation. place and community - Northland has a unique environment with many taonga." says Rachel. We want to empower our students to be scientifically literate in an ever-changing world and to be curious and engaged with what's around them. We also want to ensure our curiculum Rachel will head back into the classroom next term, though the Science Teaching and Leadership Programme continues for a further 12 months. gives mana orite to Matauranga Maori." Rachel's placement at council has seen her spend "That's when the rubber hits the road - we take time with many different people and projects, getting involved in shorebird surveys, estuarine species surveys, kauri dieback sampling, dune protection, freshwater pest fish control, wetland all of these incredible learnings and look at how we can apply that to our curriculum, grow scientific literacy with our students and inspire great science in our kura and our community." Dune planting season kicks off Planting season has begun for CoastCare groups around the region who are working hard to protect and restore our precious Weed workshops a winner sand dunes around Te Taitokerau. Our free annual workshops offering Northlanders tips on how to tackle some of the worst weeds threatening our Not only are these dunes home to precious native plants and creatures, they help protect against coastal hazards and erosion. region have proven popular once again. Nearly 100 people came along to hear from pest plant experts at the winter workshops last week in Dargaville, Kerikori, Coopers Beach and Whangärei. If you missed out, check out our pest control hub for advice! www.nrc.govt.nz/pestcontrolhub Keen to help out? Contact our CoastCare Coordinator to find a group near you. coastcare@nre.govt.nz Northland Contact your local councillor at www.nrc.govt.nz/councillors REGIONAL COUNCIL Te Kaunihera a rohe o Te Taitokerau