New Zealand November 2008

The Enviroschools Foundation hosted a workshop, in November 2008.  Teachers from Chile, Brunei and Singapore attended.  The one-week visit included two days at Te Mauri Tau, the Māori base of Enviroschools, then visits to seven enviroschools in Hamilton and Auckland.

Teachers from these countries said that the week trip was inspiring, and they identified a number of aspects of Enviroschools that had impressed them, including student leadership, purposeful action-focused projects, student confidence and knowledge and the integration of Māori perspectives.

The Chilean teachers sent the following feedback on what they had observed about Enviroschools:

• New Zealand students in enviroschools feel ownership and take responsibility for what they do.
• Enviroschools is helping to build leadership skills amongst the children.
• Enviroschools helps makes children part of a sustainable society.
• Through Enviroschools children develop a respect for what is around them, for themselves, and for their community.
• Children are confident believers in the importance of the environment because they are allowed to see and experience it. 
• Students are self confident and use their knowledge to protect the environment and pursue sustainability.
• School is a fun place and everyone enjoys what they are doing.
• Children make decisions about their future (rather than waiting for it to arrive).
• Enviroschools is child centred and people (experts, teachers, students, parents) work as a collective to bring Enviroschools ambitions to fruition.
• Through the process of learning (and teaching) children (and schools) are not afraid to fail.
• Children are independent and knowledgeable and take pride in their environment.