Green reward for Riverdale
Primary school is one of five to win environmental education programme
Riverdale School has won a Treemendous Education Programme, an initiative from the Mazda Foundation focused on environmental education.
The Palmerston North school is one of five around Aotearoa to win the programme.
Mazda ambassadors Ruud “The Bugman” Kleinpaste and shark scientist Dr Riley Elliott will talk to each school about sustainability and the importance of looking after our environment.
Kleinpaste will help the schools identify ways to enhance and use their current outdoor spaces and incorporate the environment as an immersive part of the curriculum based on their chosen project.
Each school will also receive $1000 towards their environmental project as well as 200 native trees from Trees That Count for the school grounds.
Riverdale will continue working with tamariki to develop their scientific literacy through a range of environmental projects.
“We believe providing an outdoor learning space is important for children to explore and make connections to the natural world,” science lead teacher Janine McIntyre says.
“A key focus of these projects will be to increase the biodiversity in our local area, protecting native insects and birds from predators.”
Mazda Foundation chairman David Hodge says he is delighted 150 schools applied to win the programme for 2022.
“It’s great to be able to inspire young New Zealanders to be passionate about our environment and encourage learning outside of the standard classrooms. We are looking forward to seeing the results each of these schools achieve with the help of Ruud and Riley.”
Primary and intermediate schools can apply for the programme at treemendous.org.nz.