The young green graduates

A bunch of kids have graduated from a programme designed to get them interested in their environment.

The graduation was for the first Rotokare Youth Ambassadors who have devoted their past year to education and events.

The ambassadors, eight year six and seven students and two high school mentors, were part of the ‘pilot year’ which environmental educator Jen Puckey said has gone ‘‘really really well’’.

‘‘One of them asked ‘are we guinea pigs?’ I said yeah,’’ Puckey laughed.

The youth ambassador programme was inspired by Wellington’s Zealandia and their work with youth within the sanctuary.

And due to the success of this first year at Rotokare, Puckey said there’s not much they would change as they welcome new ambassadors in July.

The youth ambassadors were required to attend two workshops of

‘‘One of them asked ’are we guinea pigs?’ I said yeah.’’

Jen Puckey

five hours a term for their first year to extend their knowledge on different topics.

Puckey said over their time they had covered everything from the history of the reserve, to the people involved, to birds and reptiles.

The ambassadors were then required to commit to and help with at least one trust run event a term for the two years, focusing on their communication skills.

Puckey said the students would volunteer far more than they were needed.

‘‘They were putting their hands up for extra,’’ she said.

The aim was for the ambassadors to gain more confidence and leadership as time went on and was something Puckey saw them achieve.

‘‘They’ve had a growth in knowledge, and confidence too,’’ she said.

Puckey said at the graduation some of the ambassadors showed off everything they had learnt to their parents, teachers and principals, with pride.

‘‘They’re more than happy to stand up and talk,’’ she said. Puckey said she also received great feedback from the children’s families. ‘‘Some of the parents said ‘they just love coming out here’.’’

One thing she said they would change is the use of high school mentors, due to their workload.

There would instead be ‘‘junior mentors’’ chosen from the graduated ambassadors. Puckey said the graduates would be hanging around and helping out where they’re needed for the next year, ‘‘and hopefully more’’.

The applications for the new youth ambassadors are open and she said despite the pressures of more children wanting to join, they would stick to their current number.