OUTDOOR CLASSROOM DAY
THE GIFT OF MEMORIES
We regret to inform you that, with the predicted stock shortages, it is already time to begin sorting out your Christmas shopping. Tourism New Zealand have just launched the Gifting Hub and it’s one way to support local businesses, the New Zealand tourism industry and the environment while checking some loved ones off your Christmas list. If there’s one thing we think Kiwis are going to want to do next year, it’s get out of their own house and do something new. The Gifting Hub has hundreds of tourism experiences from all over Aotearoa listed and, after perusing the listings, purchasers buy directly from the tourism operator. Most vouchers are valid for at least 12 months, with some remaining valid up to three years. There are experiences like Skydive Wanaka, Carino Wildlife Cruises, Hanmer Springs and the Redwoods Tree Top Walk, just to name a few. Say no to buying unnecessary junk: nothing says "I love you" like the gift of jumping out of a plane.
We know parents of school-age kids in Auckland are desperate for a lifeline — something, anything, to break up the drudgery of homeschooling. On Thursday, it’s Tamaki Makaurau Outdoor Classroom Day, courtesy of Auckland Parks, Auckland Council, Sustainable Schools Auckland and Auckland Botanic Gardens. It’s not an outdoor classroom that you can drop your kids off to — which we know is what you really want — but it is an invitation for you to take your homeschooling outside and get the kids learning in nature. On the event’s Facebook page, you’ll find all sorts of ideas for outdoor learning activities, including art projects, writing exercises, conservation lessons and more. You could even undertake the “30 days of connection” project, which guides children to connect with their environment every day for a month. Sometimes a change can be almost as good as a break, so let’s hope the weather plays ball, and we can all move our home classrooms outdoors on Thursday or any day this week.
Follow Tamaki Makaurau Outdoor Classroom Day on Facebook for more information.
PLAN AHEAD