Our adventure to Kiwi North

After much enthusiasm and anticipation on Friday the 27^th November 2014 we went on an adventure to Kiwi North and grounds.  The miserable forecast and weather didn’t dampen our spirits.  There was a buzz of excitement amongst the children, the wonderful part of going on excursions is getting out in the community as there is so much to see, explore, discover and experience.

Once we locked up kindergarten we all boarded the bus and had an enjoyable ride to Kiwi North.  Upon arriving it had thankfully stopped raining, so we had a picnic morning tea.  Some of the children found interesting places to eat including on the boulders.

“Excursions are valuable for everyone – children, educators and the community, for children to build a strong sense of themselves within the community and to make meaningful connections with the world outside the gate.”  Ingrid Maack, 2011

Shirley from Kiwi North gave us a guided tour around the kiwi house.  She gave lots of detailed information about our treasured icon bird, for example, we learnt how the kiwi’s nostrils are at the end of the beak.  Then it was time to go on an adventure into the darkness of the kiwi house, we were delighted to watch the kiwi running around and foraging for food.  What a special treat to be so close to the kiwi and watch their movements. 

“Everyone likes birds.  What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?  People must feel that the natural world is important and valuable and beautiful and wonderful and an amazement and a pleasure.”  David Attenborough

Kevin introduced us to their tuatara called ‘Flash’, we learnt lots of interesting facts about New Zealand’s dinosaur including that Flash is only four years old, and they don’t know if Flash is a boy or girl, which they won’t find out until Flash is around ten years old.

“Here is your country.  Cherish the natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children.”  Theodore Roosevelt

While adventuring we discovered a big hill which was fantastic fun to run or roll down.  We also discovered the miniature train tracks; these were particularly tricky to balance on.  Our excursion was a great educational experience which gave further opportunities to investigate and explore while extending our children’s interest with birds especially the kiwi.   

Back at kindergarten it was great to reflect with our children what their favourite part of our excursion was, here are some comments and drawings;

Emma:  “I loved seeing the kiwi’s.  I saw one pecking at some food it had a very long, long, long, long, long, long, long beak; it pecked the food off the ground.  Seeing the kiwi was amazing.”

Peter:  “Seeing kiwi and tuatara, I thought it was going to run away.”
Charlize:  “I saw one kiwi, it was looking for food in its cage, it ran away.”
Roman:  “Lots of kiwi’s 1,2,3,4,5, its dark only a blue light on.”
Charlie:  “All the fun things, I saw two kiwi, a person fed the kiwi.”
Tyler:  “Going with my mummy and seeing the kiwi in the dark, one was by the tree.”
Mercia:  “I liked the bus ride with my Mum.”
Wyatt:  “I liked seeing that lizard thing what was it called?  Oh yeah it’s a tuatara its name is Flash and it was four."

Braeden:  “I liked seeing the skeleton dinosaur (tuatara).”

Max:  “Kiwi’s, they were eating their dinner, sometimes the kiwi ran away.”

Kayla:  “My favourite part was seeing the kiwi, it was dark, it was digging for some food.”
Sienna:  “Seeing the kiwi’s.”
Cameron:  “On the bus with Mum.  The kiwi.”
Tiaki:  “The bus, going past my house I saw it out the window.”
Payton:  “The kiwis they were running around and the tuatara was called Flash.”
Reese:  “I liked the bus ride and I liked the tuatara when we come out.  It was called Flash and its four like me, I loved it.  I really, really, really liked everything.”
Nyla:  Going on the bus with my Mummy, Reese and Max.  I liked seeing the kiwi.”

A very big thank you to all our helpers and whānau who were all so willing and able; without your support this excursion wouldn’t have been possible.  Also thank you to Robbie from Ritchies, he was our friendly bus driver.  This trip was made possible by all the fabulous fundraising efforts early in the year.

Ngā mihi nui

Susie