The Taranaki Regional Council works with schools across the region to deliver interesting and relevant environmental and disaster-preparedness education programmes.
The photos on this page illustrate some recent school activities involving the Council and its Education Officer.
All their own work
Waitoriki School won a 2009 Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Award for environmental awareness which involves school beautification, waste minimisation,composting,worm farming and gardening. Pictured are pupils standing alongside the trees they planted when they first started at the school. To make a nomination for a 2010 Environmental Award, click here.
Down by the river side 1
Stratford High School pupils identify invertebrates collected from the Patea River. The field trip was one of a series of four lessons organised through the Taranaki Regional Council's Education Officer. The others covered the role of the Council, riparian management and pest management programmes.
Understanding Stan and the plan
Council Education Officer Kevin Archer talks to pupils at Opunake Primary about the types of disasters the region could encounter and the need for everybody to be prepared for when they occur. The lesson was based on "What's the Plan Stan?", a national disaster prepardness programme aimed at young people. For more information, click here.
Down by the river side 2
As part of Central Primary School's junior syndicate study of Te Maunga (the mountain), the students looked at the water quality of the Waiwhakaiho River near its source on Peters Road.
Little fish fans
Junior pupils from Eltham Primary find much of interest in the Council's biolaboratory. The visit followed a successful study of the stream which runs behind their school.
Writing it up
This quartet from Frankley School are recording the data they collected at the Mangakotuku Stream flowing through the Ratapihihi Reserve in New Plymouth.The stream exercise was part of an overall study of the reserve.
To plant or not to plant?
The Taranaki Regional Council sponsors a prize for the best exhibit displaying an aspect of environmental science at the annual Science and Technology Fair. The winner in 2009 was Claire Richardson whose exhibit looked at the benefits of riparian planting.