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Education and the environment

Sustainability education is more than just developing awareness and understanding about environmental issues. It is about taking action towards becoming sustainable communities - what is the problem, what is the solution, and how can we participate in improving our environment?

ARC education programmes

Auckland Regional Council (ARC) produces education material, delivers events and targeted education programmes for the general public, schools, businesses, rural and urban communities that:

  • are highly motivating
  • provide hands-on experiences
  • address the achievement objectives of the New Zealand curriculum
  • led by experienced staff - teachers, park rangers and specialist staff
  • support the Ministry of Education guidelines for environmental education.

These programmes are a practical starting point to inspire children to make a positive difference to their environment!

  • Learning Through Experience (LTE) - based in our regional parks, LTE is a popular curriculum-based programme led by experienced teachers and park rangers. It provides children with hands-on, practical experience, and teachers with a comprehensive range of curriculum resources.
  • Enviroschools - an education awards scheme, Enviroschools encourages schools towards becoming sustainable communities.
  • EcoKids - hosted by the colourful superhero, Agent Ani, EcoKids is a website that uses comics and animation to encourage kids to protect the environment.
  • Trees for Survival - a hands-on programme in which school students learn how to raise and nurture a range of native trees that they receive as tiny seedlings. After a year of tending the trees and growing them to a plantable size, the students experience a day in the country planting their trees on erosion-prone land and learning about the environmental benefits of their work.
  • Education resources
  • In association with regional and national organisations we provide an annual programme of professional development workshops for teachers, some of which are available to community people working with environmental groups.