Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre
The Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre is a nature based education space where the cultural and creative connection to the land, sustainable use of resources and the restoration of ecology and biodiversity management can be taught through using the outdoor environment as a context for learning. Our aim is to grow future generations of New Zealanders who understand the impact of their actions and inactions on creating a healthy and sustainable future for us all. Within the rich context of the natural world, te taiao, we are working to support learning with community groups and across all sectors from early years through primary, secondary, and tertiary education.
What is the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre?
‘Imagine growing generations of New Zealanders who understand environmental issues and actively contribute to a healthy sustainable future for us all’
-Environmental Education for Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan 2017-2021 (Dept of Conservation 2017)
A focus on the future, including sustainability, is not only a core principle in the NZ School Curriculum, but also aligns with the overarching aim of this new Outdoor Learning Centre. Activities at the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre provide a range of opportunities for learners to; connect with nature so that they can understand the impact of their actions or inactions on the environment, and benefit society through their positive attitudes and behaviours.
With generous funding from the Air New Zealand Environment Trust, we have established this community centred Learning in Nature space as a collaboration between the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), Ngāti Pārau (the mana whenua), Department of Conservation, Predator Free Hawke’s Bay, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, EnviroSchools and others. Our mission is to develop connections, positive attitudes and future behaviours through enabling and promoting learning across the curriculum and between disciplines, in an environmental context. The Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre, is a unique regional facility, providing different user groups with the opportunity for to immerse themselves in nature whilst they are developing their knowledge and capabilities.
The Centre has a particular role in developing the skills and confidence of our trainee Primary and Early Childhood degree student teachers, as well as providing professional development for teachers wishing to use nature as a context for learning. In addition, EIT students across a range of programmes now have part of their curriculum delivered outdoors, and the Centre is increasingly utilised by local community groups, schools and local hapū.
Connecting our communities through learning in nature is a vision driven by the community, for the community. Whilst the project’s roots are embedded at the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre, it’s potential reach extends far beyond the boundaries of EIT. Working collaboratively, we aim to promote nature literacy across the New Zealand education curriculum, for the benefit of all.
In 2020 Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre was a finalist in the prestigious Green Gown Awards and in November 2021 the Centre won a Green Gown Award in the International category, Benefitting Society. This award is an acknowledgement that the ŌOLC and the wider learning in nature project, promotes values of sustainability in Aotearoa/NZ, enhancing the lives of individuals by connecting them with nature, cultural heritage and the community through the landscape and curriculum.
The Awards, run by the Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS), are open to all Australasian Tertiary institutions and were established in 2004 to recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken within the sector.
Book the Centre
To find out more about our Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre and to register your interest, please contact:
The Manager
Email: otataraoutdoorlearningcentre@eit.ac.nz
Inspirational Teaching Resources
We’ve collated some of our favourite inspirations for learning and teaching outdoors. Our thanks to the producers of these excellent free resources! Whether you’ve got the ‘end-of-year-frazzle-blues’ or are already planning your programme, there’s something here for you. Jump in and be inspired!
Why should you invest in the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre
Watch this short video to find out more about our learning in nature project and how you can invest in the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre.
The Ōtātara Gully is Open for Walking
Just before lockdown, we started work to reopen the gully pathway, adjacent to the ŌOLC. The native trees in the gully were planted by EIT staff and students around six years ago and last month, students from the Certificate in Horticulture General Level 3 were able to get involved by laying grass seed.
Despite the lack of rain in over the last few months the grass grew well and we are now able to enjoy this walk. A small grass platform for student groups to stand or sit on the ground has been created and longer term, a seating area will be installed for quiet reflection. The views from the top of the track are truly breath-taking.
Taradale High School Visits
In early April, the first Year 9 Social Science classes from Taradale High School, used our outdoor environment to learn about, and play traditional Māori inspired games. They learnt what life was like in pre-European New Zealand and Chad Tareha also took them on a walk to the Ōtātara Pā.
Back at school the students created their own Pā from a variety of mixed media, such as papermache, posters and Mindcraft. We will be working closely with TDHS this year to develop some collaborative pilot workshops and classes.
2021 Green Gown Awards Australasia Winners
Environmental Studies
Equip yourself for a role in the exciting and ever-expanding world of environmental management. Develop knowledge and skills in environmental sustainability and how to manage environmental projects in business, community and government.
Māra Kai
In September, Kumara tubers were laid down undercover in the EIT campus Greenhouse. Tipu will be planted at the site early November to demonstrate a traditional and Sustainable Food Production Practice. A storage pit is also planned to accommodate the cyclic growing, harvest and storage methods of the Kumara.
Revegetation Planting
At the beginning of September 2019 the NZ Certificate in Sustainable Primary Production (Level 4) cohort planned and implemented the first stage of revegetating the bank by the log cabin at the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre. Some 350 appropriate to site and eco sourced native species are now planted. As they grow, they will both beautify and contribute to the biodiversity of the region. The students have recorded their work with “Trees that Count” https://www.treesthatcount.co.nz and will continually monitor their planting and record data for course assessment.
Long term weed control will be practiced using sustainable releasing (by hand and solely around the base of each tree) and maintained by future EIT Horticulture students.
New Kaitiaki for Otatara Outdoor Learning Centre
Protecting and preserving an EIT Hawke’s Bay campus outdoor learning sanctuary is important environmentally and culturally for the future, says EIT new kaitiaki (guardian) of the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre (ŌOLC).
Gerard Henry, a tutor in EIT’s School of Primary Industries, takes up the role while maintaining his teaching duties in EIT’s environmental management and horticulture programmes. Gerard will be supported by the wider Primary Industries team.
Kāhui Ākonga Hui at Ōtatāra Outdoor Learning Centre
We were delighted to host ākonga from seven Ōtatāra Kāhui kura at the Ōtatāra Outdoor Learning Centre recently. It was an honour to connect with our local school community in such a meaningful way.
The focus of the visit was to connect and reflect on wellbeing through the lens of Te Whare Tapa Whā. Bailey, a student from Taradale High School, organised and lead team-building activities, including a nature treasure hunt that brought everyone closer to the environment and each other. The group reflected on the importance of being in nature for wellbeing—how it helps us feel good and function well.
EIT horticulture team helps rescue rare Ngutukākā (Kakabeak) plants
Rare Ngutukākā (Kakabeak) plants, that survived Cyclone Gabrielle, have been planted by members of the EIT Primary Industries Horticulture team in a partnership with the Department of Conservation.
The seeds were collected , some by helicopter, from rare and precious wild Ngutukākā plants in the Wairoa region.
EIT student creates Lizard Lounge at Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre
A Lizard Lounge has been established at the OOLC. Project Lizard Lounge (PLL) is the brainchild of Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management) ākonga Aimey Tahu (Ngāpuhi).
Life-long love of nature leads EIT student to important local environmental research
A life-long love of exploring the outdoors has been the incentive for an EIT student to pursue a career in environmental research in Hawke’s Bay.
Ryan Bauckham, 35, is in his final year of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management), which EIT offers in partnership with Unitec.
He has currently been researching Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) in a significant forest stand called Puahanui found near Gwavas , Tikokino.
Public lecture highlights impact of nature-based learning at EIT’s Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre
The ‘Learning in Nature’ research project at the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre on EIT’s Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale shows the benefits of children connecting to nature, Associate Professor Emily Nelson says.
Dr Nelson, of EIT’s School of Education and Social Sciences, presented the fourth public lecture in a series: ‘Reconnecting Through Research’, at MTG Hawke’s Bay, organised by EIT’s Research and Innovation Centre (RIC).
Rongoā (Māori medicine) Garden
Have you seen our Rongoā (Māori medicine) garden at the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre? Rongoā Māori is the traditional healing system of Māori and incorporates the use of plant based remedies.
The Tohunga Suppression Act 1907 saw the demise of rongoā Māori because the tōhunga (experts, priests) who administered the rongoā could no longer continue this practice. However, as with many of this countrys’ traditional knowledges such as te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, toi Māori, a resurgence has occurred since the 1970s to revitalise these taonga tuku iho (heirlooms handed down from the ancestors).
It is therefore an honour for us to be a part of this revitalisation and teaching of Rongoā thanks to an exciting collaboration between staff and students in Te Ūranga Waka, Nursing and Primary Industry. The garden provides an opportunity to link knowledge with practice for many of our students across campus. Our Nursing graduates, for example, will come be able to better engage and manage patients who use Rongoā in managing their own health. They will also be able to discuss possible interactions and complementary actions of the plants they are using. All of our students, staff and visitors will be able to see, touch and smell the native plants. An additional project will enable the access to information on how each plant can be used as a natural alternative to modern medicine to alleviate, even cure a range of medical issues.
Are there opportunities to use Rongoā?
If you would like to know more about how you can use the garden please contact otataraoutdoorlearningcentre@eit.ac.nz
Harakeke
Members of our community, EIT staff and students have begun in earnest to revitalise the pā harakeke at the Ōtātara Outdoor Learning Centre. There are two important plantings at the site. The harakeke on the upper level were planted by those who were at the weaving roopu in the original stables when the Community Arts Centre was based on site. The second planting, was one of ten locations of a nationwide harakeke evaluation trial that Manaaki Whenua carried out in the 1990s. Three plants of 12 named harakeke varieties from the Orchiston Collection were grown at each of the 10 sites. The cultivars were: Ngaro, Ate, Parekoretawa, Paretaniwha, Arawa, Paoa, Māeneene, Kōhunga, Tapamangu, Tapoto, Hūhiroa, Oue.
There is a rich history of mahi raranga on this site and what better way to pay homage than to breathe new life into it and promote healthier plants which look their best at all times. The Harakeke working group also intends to undertake some research on the plant origins.
If you are keen to get involved with the working group, please contact Puti Nuku pnuku@eit.ac.nz.
Partners
