Waikanae Rotary and Nga Manu Nature Reserve combine to provide unique opportunity for Paraparaumu College students
On Friday 22 April, ten year-13 students from Paraparaumu College completed a 4 day practical conservation skills course at Ngā Manu Nature Reserve on the Kāpiti Coast. These students have largely decided that they want to pursue conservation careers and this hands-on experience which includes learning about doing health checks on birds and reptiles, key aspects of habitat management through to predator control sessions, will give them a head start.
The programme was developed by Ngā Manu in partnership with Brian Ireland of Startled Gecko Ltd and generously supported by Waikanae Rotary.
Leading practitioners in their fields worked alongside Ngā Manu staff and volunteers to deliver seven modules.
Pat Stuart, Chair, Ngā Manu Trust Board said "Ngā Manu was considered the perfect place for this programme because of its 50 year commitment to conservation, its participation in captive animal and breed-for-release programme and its accessibility and location at the heart of the Kāpiti Coast."
Paraparaumu College Head of Department – Biology/Environmental Science, Annalisa Turner said “This experience was invaluable for students and will give them a real head start in their intended career. There is no substitute for actual field experience.”
This Programme provided senior Paraparaumu College students with hands-on practical conservation skills at Ngā Manu Nature Reserve. For example, Predator Control sessions (physical setting of traps and monitoring techniques), Fresh Water monitoring (SCHMAK water monitoring), Husbandry (Bird & Reptile – health checks, handling), Botany (mistletoe, seed collection, vegetation plots).
Acting Waikanae Rotary President David Bruce said “The club was looking for ways to leverage the long and ongoing relationship with Paraparaumu College and Nga Manu. There was clearly a need for a course like this for secondary students and the club is fully behind making this an ongoing project. As far as we know, it’s the only course of its kind in New Zealand.”
You can find out more about Nga Manu here
The team that created this unique initiative for Paraparaumu College students.