Bush School Is Brilliant:

Our children love Bush School - He Kura Ngahere. We are so blessed to have the ultra-passionate services and skills of Whaea Nicole to lead this programme full-time at Western Heights.

Nicole is a taonga - a treasure - and uses our Bush to teach skills, knowledge, values, and academic subjects all through the vehicle of outdoor education.

Our children develop interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, collaboration, curiosity, wonder, respect, cooperation, communication, practical life skills, construction - the list could go on and on. 

We are improving our setup all the time - stunning gardens, a new outdoor classroom, a tool shed, and lots of plans for things like hot composting.

Bush Classroom Teacher Nicole has been chosen to participate in BLAKE Inspire:

BLAKE Inspire is an opportunity for teachers who are passionate about developing their environmental knowledge.

BLAKE Inspire for Teachers is a five-day, action-packed environmental education and leadership development programme in Auckland.

Funded by the Ministry of Education, the programme brings together teachers from all over Aotearoa who are keen to develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and how to apply environmental education across all subjects.

During the week, delegates are teamed with world-leading scientists, environmental leaders and experts in their fields to learn about environmental issues such as climate change, freshwater quality, biodiversity and ocean health.

The programme provides delegates with experiential learning opportunities and practical ways to translate the experience to their students to encourage environmental action, conservation and sustainability within their schools.

This is an outstanding opportunity and achievement for Whaea Nic to be chosen for this prestigious programme. Nicole spends so much of her spare time upskilling in this realm, and this will take her knowledge, skills, experience and understanding to whole new levels. So cool!!