Virtual learning helps kids to ‘Meet their Locals’ during Conservation Week 2008

Over 300 mainly rural schools around New Zealand will have an opportunity to participate in Conservation Week 2008 through virtual learning.
The theme for Conservation Week this year is ‘Meet the Locals - Tutakitia te Iwi Kainga', with ‘locals' referring to New Zealand's native species and their habitats, the local people that work to protect them, and the special places which reflect our historic heritage.

For each day of Conservation Week, which runs from the 7-14 September, schools will be able to tune in for online sessions with Department of Conservation (DOC) and Karori Wildlife Sactuary staff and learn about conservation projects, people and places around New Zealand.

Education Advisor for DOC, Pam Crisp, said the sessions would help students find out what conservation involved, what kinds of jobs DOC staff did, and what schools could do to help.
"We'll be sharing lots of practical tips - from attracting lizards into the school grounds, to things they can do in their own backyards and households to look after the environment."

In addition, DOC has produced two new education units to help engage primary school aged children in conservation.
The units, written by Mike Tapp, a DOC ranger from Taranaki with a strong education background, are packaged around selected Meet the Locals video clips, which have been produced by DOC and TVNZ Family on TV6 as part of a wider campaign aimed at encouraging New Zealanders - and young people in particular - to meet their ‘locals'.
Mr Tapp said the units link the Meet the Locals video clips to a series of learning tools to get kids talking and exited about conservation.

"Ideally they'll help kids meet a conservation need in their own community. That's what brings relevance and purpose to their learning. The videos really are amazing little resources for schools. They're short and focussed and real attention grabbers. They show conservation is fun and important and that all sorts of people chip and make a difference."

With caring for the environment prominent in the new curriculum, linked to other aspects of sustainability, it's a great time for young kiwis to meet their locals as the beginning of an ongoing learning journey.

The education units, along with more information about Conservation Week, are available on the Conservation Week website, www.conservationweek.org.nz. As well as screening on TV6, the Meet the Locals clips are available on both the DOC website, www.doc.govt.nz, and the TVNZ website, www.tvnz.co.nz.