Nature Walk
When we think about Nature Connection most of us would instantly think of being in the bush somewhere. But in term 4 2024 Seymour Kindergarten tamariki discovered that a walk around the block can tie in all the Pathways to Nature Connection.
What are the Pathways to Nature Connection?
A deepened nature connection experience is achieved through the 5 pathways – sense, emotion, meaning, beauty and compassion.
Hill rolling at Lansdowne Park
Seymour Kindergarten tamariki have been exploring these by using their senses – smelling the flowers and touching the lambs ears.
Experiencing the enjoyment (Emotions) of rolling down a grassy mound in Horton Park or the excitement of watching a bumble bee wiggle his way into a snap dragon flower to collect pollen.
The tamariki have found meaning in these walks by connecting with their community – this has included being able to identify their own houses and post thank you cards in the letterboxes of the gardens that they admire. This has even led to being invited by the owners for a tour of their garden. Tamariki show compassion for the environment by respecting the homes of the creatures that they find along the way – ants, snails, slugs, birds and respecting people’s property.
They are recognising the beauty of nature by taking a closer look, using a magnifying glass to see the details and record these on their very own clipboard.
How many tamariki are needed to reach around the tree?
Taking a closer look at a dead bird
Seymour Kindergarten’s Nature Connection programme
Seymour tamariki ready to go with their satchels
The children and kaiako draw on these experiences back at the kindergarten too. They have created a large wall map of the block that they walk around. On it they have identified the things and people they discover along the way. They have also pressed flowers from their walk and often share stories at hui.
What would usually be a 15 minute walk around the block is 90 minutes of child led exploration and discovery. The kaiako have developed this to be an ongoing programme. It includes taking the same group once a week for a whole term. This allows the child to build on their connections to the environment and community. Each child also has their own handmade upcycled satchel. In it, it contains a clipboard, pencil and magnifying glass. These “tools” give the tamariki the ability to deepen their connection with nature.
If you want support to set up a Nature Connection programme at your ECE centre or school get in touch with the Marlborough Enviroschools team.
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