Kids Greening Taupo
How it all started
My journey as part of Kids Greening Taupō (KGT) began in 2015 as a passionate year 13 student at Tauhara College Taupō. I had just returned from the Sir Peter Blake Young Environmental Leaders Forum (YELF) when I heard about a new environmental programme starting up in Taupō called Kids Greening Taupō. In the establishing year the programme was targeted at year 9 students with the hopes of creating a manageable roll-through model across the years- a well thought through decision. Despite this call for year 9 students, I kept trying to find a way to be part of the programme. I ended up taking on four different roles as part of the Student Leadership Team which taught me many environmental and leadership skills. Being part of KGT contributed to a change in my desired course of study from Design to a Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology and Biodiversity, and Environmental Studies.
First real passion-based job!
Following half a year with KGT I had finished high school and was looking for summer work before starting my Bachelor of Science at Victoria University of Wellington. KGT meetings had been based at the Taupō Department of Conservation (DOC) and I had made some amazing contacts and connections there throughout the programme. I decided I would try my luck and ask around if there would be any available summer work at the Taupō DOC office. I went on to complete a two-month internship as a partnership ranger at the Taupō DOC office; in this time my passions for native flora and fauna flourished through incredible opportunities and experiences.
University life (or maybe extra-curricular life)
During my three years at university, I continued to grow my passion for conservation and the environment through various youth councils and opportunities.
In the summer before my third and final year of my undergraduate studies, I was selected as a Sir Peter Blake DOC Ambassador and volunteered as a Biodiversity (fauna) Ranger in Saint Arnaud, Nelson Lakes for a month. This work consisted of large amounts of pest control for wasps, mustelids and rodents as well as skink monitoring, analysing kiwi audio recordings, blogging and advocacy. During my third year of university, I established Forest & Bird Youth Wellington, based on my experiences with KGT and the Collaborative Community Education Model. I also attended the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education conferences twice, presented two talks (one for KGT and one for Forest & Bird Youth), and represented youth on a panel for environmental education for sustainability. During university breaks I remained involved with KGT activities, taking part in releasing/weeding of plants, pest control, story boarding for film, photographing events and helping with student speeches
Full circle
Nearing the end of my degree Thea (current Education Coordinator for KGT) approached me with a job opportunity as an Environmental Education Coordinator in 2019 alongside herself. I have now been working with KGT since February. I absolutely love my job! At KGT I get to work with the kindergarten kids exploring their local Ngāhere, I teach primary school students hands-on conservation best practice, and lead a leadership team of students aged 10-18. Additionally, I coordinate local restoration projects, school camp activities, organise community events and teacher professional development. I get to work with a range of people in the community, planting seeds of knowledge and growing passions for the environment whilst being out there in nature hands-on. Every day is different and that is wonderful. The kids just blow me away with their problem solving abilities and how enthusiastic they are to make a change and get stuck in.
So, I have come full-circle in many aspects already, I am so thankful to have been given yet another incredible opportunity to see these kids thrive in the environment whilst working for KGT! Thanks to Kids Greening Taupō for being one of the programmes at the centre of my journey!
