Classroom to the Sanctuary

From the Classroom to the Sanctuary

Written by Shelley Roberts – Science Teaching Leadership Programme (STLP)

As part of the Science Teaching Leadership Programme (STLP), I had the incredible opportunity to spend time at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary and experience conservation based science first-hand. It was a perfect extension of my work with Enviroschools and an excellent context for science learning.

One of the highlights was being involved in breed-for-release programmes and seeing the important roles that our local zoo and sanctuary play in restoring habitats and populations of threatened taonga species. Seeing how the translocated kiwi and tuatara have flourished at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary is a powerful reminder of what conservation can achieve when people work together.

These species are part of both the history and the future of this place, a living symbol of the connection between humans and the land. I was especially grateful to witness the first group of kākā being given their names by Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō and being released into their new home at the Sanctuary.

Through Sanctuary educator Rick Field and his contacts in the science community, I learned that species recovery in Aotearoa is a network of people and places – breeding facilities, zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, private conservationists, iwi, scientists, volunteers and community groups all have different skills, resources and roles to play. It was a privilege to see this work in action, to be alongside Sanctuary staff who gave up their time to help me and to have space outside the busy classroom to consider how I can bring these stories of conservation and collaboration back to tamariki at Birchwood School to enhance our science teaching and learning.

My experiences at the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, alongside Natureland Zoo, Cawthron Institute and the Nelson City Council have shown me the value of sharing real-world science and the stories of the people who are using science to make a difference. We want tamariki at Birchwood to see themselves as capable citizens and important contributors to the science community, knowing that their questions, ideas and discoveries matter.

Through this, we can help them develop a deeper understanding of, and connection to, our world, and know that they too can take an active role in caring for and protecting our taonga species and unique taiao.