An exciting partnership between educators and Whoa! Studios has resulted in rolling out of our Kea for Kids! education roadshow for South Island schools. The “Kea for Kids” Kea Conservation Trust roadshow was launched in 2022 with funds from Whoa! Studios and as of 2024 is been sponsored by NZSki as part of their "Bring back the Birds" programme. This hands on, interactive class aims to reach children throughout Te Wai Pounamu to build better understanding and enthusiasm for kea, in a fun environment. As of the end of 2024, 35 schools, 111 classes and 2323 students had been visited from Golden Bay to Te Anau, with more schools being visited during 2025!
For annual outcomes, please scroll below 🙂
The Programme
This free NZ curriculum-based project is aimed at students aged between 5 - 10 years old.
If your school would like to take advantage of this unique kea roadshow, please get in contact with us!
The programme consists of:
- An initial visit from our volunteer educators, who will deliver a fun interactive 40-45 minute lesson to your students. The program is flexible and can be delivered as a presentation or set up as interactive workstations depending on standalone resources and number of students and teachers.
- The aim is to tell the story of Kea, convey key messages and engage the next generation.
- Your class will be left with fun and informative resources which can be delivered throughout the rest of the term/year.
A few examples of what's in the programme
- Kea puzzles - find out how kea intelligence is measured using real life kea puzzles from Auckland Zoo and Willowbank.
- Who's poo is whose? With samples encased in resin and a magnifying glass, learn to identify what poo belongs to what predator and what they have been eating.
- Threats to kea - Lead poisoning - where is lead found, what does it look like and why is it dangerous to kea (and to us)? Safely sealed examples enable children to get up close and personal in a safe environment. Predators - learn to identify which predator is which using footprints from tracking tunnels and playing the "whose that on my back' game.
- Kea sightings - learn how to identify kea and send in your sightings! Learn how researchers find kea in the wild using transmitters and telemetry equipment.
Programme Educator
Helen Hamblin - NZCS, Diploma of Teaching (secondary)
Helen is a passionate educator with a background in science and education both inside and outside the classroom. Previously engaging with the community as an outreach educator then interpretive guide, she now enjoys linking her lifetime experiences of outdoor pursuits and remote travel to predator control and protection of our taonga.
Helen has created and is delivering the ‘Kea for Kids’ Road show to primary schools around the South Island, engaging the next generation with Kea and their plight.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us anytime.
2022 Roadshow outcomes
The KCT "Kids for Kea" roadshow was launched in September 2022.
September - Te Wai Pounamu
Seven interactive sessions were given at six primary schools, from Ross to Haast, over three days.
158 students participated in the program, with 21 adults in attendance.
Over 90 percent of the children had seen a kea before and were very keen to learn more about our taonga.
Learning objectives included Environment, Natural World, Kaitiaki, Science, Investigating, Interacting, Questioning.
Feedback forms were given to teachers at the beginning of each session and gathered from the teachers at the end - here's what they said...
- "Helen was very interactive and kept the tamariki engaged."
- "Helen's interaction with the tamariki - awesome! All tamariki and adults hooked.
- "The different types of poo were a hit!"
- "The kids were 100% interested the whole time!"
- " Super interactive and engaging. Well resourced."
October - Mt Somers School
Four roadshow presentations were delivered to 77 students with 4 adults in attendance.
Over 90 percent of the children had seen a kea before, have regular school ski trips to Mt Hutt and were very keen to learn more about our taonga.
The addition of two kea enrichment puzzles loaned from Auckland zoo, were a great hit!
- "Super relevant to our students as "kea are in our back yard". Hands on delivered in a clear concise, interesting way. Interactive/interesting/relevant. Excellent presentation, best Ive seen!"
- "Couldnt have asked for a better teacher than Helen. Thanks!"
November - McKenzie Country
Eight roadshow presentations were delivered to three schools (Carew Peel Forest School, Lake Tekapo School and Twizel Area School) during a three day road trip. A total of 170 students and 16 teachers were engaged.
- "Would like more of the same. Keep the visits happening. Good to build on this with more visits, not just one off."
- "Would like more of the same. Keep the visits happening. Good to build on this with more visits, not just one off."
2023 Roadshow Outcomes
The Roadshow resumed in March 2023 and will continue throughout the year.
March - Greymouth
Seven presentations were delivered to St Patricks School, reaching 165 students and 8 teachers.
- "Hands on video clips were great!"
- "I loved the cool things the kids could look at, especially the poo! This was brilliant, thank you so much!"
May - Te Anau and Whakatipu
Five schools were visited over seven days with 23 class presentations to 551 students and 30 adults, a total of 581 participants.
Three short relevant video clips used in the presentations were sent prior to the visits including a range of activity sheets to support the program. Class numbers ranged from 17 to 33 including new entrants to year 8 students.
- "Helen has an excellent presence in the class. Excellent knowledge/facts. Loved all the resources to see/touch."
- "Kinesthetic learning - sight, sound, touch. Stories/video/pictures/poo etc."
- " All activities were engaging and educational. The session was very well managed. Thank you for sharing this experience with our ākonga."
2024 Roadshow Outcomes
August - Timaru
This years roadshow resumed in August 2024 with a presentation to Mountain View kea scouts at the Eco Centre followed by a visit to Gleniti Primary School students. A total of 108 students and 24 adults enjoyed getting hands on with the kea programme and were introduced to 'Flap', Helens travel companion. Flap the kea puppet, who was banded in Te Anau by DOC personnel and named by Te Anau school kids, has been added to the Kea sightings website. To follow Flaps travels, visit him at his personal page via this link 🙂
October - Hanmer Springs
A full day saw the whole school of 88 students and 8 teachers at Hanmer Springs Primary, interact with the programme with great feedback. The addition of a kea rubber stamp used on childrens hands as they leave continues to be a real hit!
The librarian and local trapping/conservation person Tori, set up a display in the library with the posters, kea sighting information and the ‘Saving Wananga’ book.
2025 Roadshow Outcomes
The year kicked off with Helen presenting at the Arthur's Pass Summer Programme on the 4th January to 33 people. It was also a great opportunity for author, Kris Herbert to read her newly published ‘Saving Wānaga, a true story of a kea that was poisoned by lead and after treatment, returned to his home in Arthur’s Pass.
The KCT Roadshow will be start up again in Terms 3 and 4. If you would like our educator to visit your school (South Island schools only), please contact us 🙂