Kids Greening wants new youth leaders
Wanted: 30 youth leaders who are into conservation.
They might be concerned about climate crisis, or maybe have an interest in people and the community or like working in a team.
Kids Greening Taupo¯ is looking for 30 students who would like to take up a student leadership team position for 2020. Outgoing Kids Greening Taupo¯ education programme co-ordinator Thea DePetris says applications are open to Taupo¯ youth who are years 6 to 13, including home schooled students.
“We welcome applications from youth all over the Taupo¯ district. You just have to commit to coming up to Taupo¯ at least once a month.”
Now in its sixth year, Thea says Kids Greening Taupo has two leadership teams, with the student rangers in schools and the student leadership team representing the local community. Last year, Kids Greening Taupo took on 20 student leaders, and they have increased the number to 30 this year.
The programmed conservation planting day at Spa Park is the showcase project of the student leadership team. Thea says the student leadership team also run their own events, using budding leadership skills to bring their own ideas to fruition.
“We want them to lead their own ideas. We also want their feedback on KGT. We don’t want it to be an adult-driven programme.”
Thea says they look for a wide variety of attributes to bring diversity to the team. She says an interest in developing leadership skills and an interest in conservation are key.
“There are the kids who want to be out there doing stuff. There are the kids who are really into nature. There are kids who like trapping.
There are the kids who just want to learn more leadership skills and they might be into something like technology that can be used in the team situation.”
Thea says they are also keen to have a group of rangatahi affiliated with Nga¯ ti Tu¯ wharetoa on the team.
A monthly meeting is led by local experts who offer coaching in their field of expertise.
■ Applications close on February 24 and applications can be found at www.kidsgreeningtaupo¯.org.nz