Secondary school enviro leaders from across Waipā will attend Waikato Regional Council’s annual climate summit at Te Awamutu College’s O-Tāwhao Marae next month.
Pirongia and Pāterangi School enviro leaders try on mayor Susan O’Regan’s mayoral chains. Photo: Supplied
Cambridge schools are among those attending.
“Enviro schools has deep roots in the Waikato. It was actually piloted in the Waikato over 20 years ago. The pilot schools in Hamilton are still going strong,” Enviro schools regional coordinator Michelle Daly said.
“Enviro schools is all about creating a healthy, peaceful sustainable world.
“Part of that summit is to engage young people in leadership conversations and build their communication skills so they can talk to their peers and teachers about climate change. We also engage nature connection.
“They go out and experience community projects. The best thing about this summit is for them to connect with others across the region.”
There are now more than 1600 New Zealand-based enviro schools, reaching about 400,100 students from Year 1-13.
In the Waipā region alone there are 25 schools (69 per cent in the district) involved in the programme.
Five Waipā kindergartens are also under the enviro umbrella.
The list of Waipa Enviro schools are:
Cambridge High School, Cambridge Kindergarten, Cambridge Middle, Cambridge Primary schools, Central Kids Kindergartens – Hazelmere, Central Kids Kindergartens – Kihikihi, Goodwood, Hautapu, Horahora schools, James Gray Kindergarten, Karāpiro School, Leamington Kindergarten, Leamington, Ngāhinapōuri, Ōhaupō, Pāterangi, Pekapekarau, Pirongia, Pōkuru, Puahue, Pukeatua, St Patrick’s Catholic (Te Awamutu), St Peter’s Catholic (Cambridge), St Peter’s (Cambridge) schools, Te Awamutu College, Te Awamutu Primary, Te Miro, Te Pahū, Waipā Christian, and Wharepapa South schools.
The Trees of Survival programme is about working with schools to grow, nurture and plant natives. Photo: Jesse Wood
