Inculcating a love for nature amongst New Zealand children

In March 2016, a brand new kids-centric programme, Kiwi Guardians, was launched in New Zealand. As part of a long-term partnership with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC), this conservation programme aims to encourage children – and tomorrow’s leaders – to spend less time with digital toys, and spend more time in the great outdoors. Today, a year later, 7,000 kids are certified as Toyota Kiwi Guardians.

Connecting With Nature

In today’s digital age, the world spends more time connected online, as opposed to being connected with nature. Research has also shown that spending time in nature has a multitude of positive benefits for a child’s development, improving their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. But it is imperative that a connection to nature is established from an early age. “Research has demonstrated that children can establish lifelong connections to nature if they actively engage with it between the ages of 6-10,” says DOC’s National Outreach and Education Manager, Sarah Murray.

The programme centers around the basis of having family-friendly adventures in the world of nature, where children are free to engage their senses and have fun. Children are presented with a list of 20 picturesque wildlife and landscape sites that they can visit with friends or family.

These sites are scattered across the country, and include scenic spots like North Head, Manawatu Gorge, and Godley Head, to name a few. All sites are marked with Guardian Posts, which have QR codes for children to scan for rewards – in the form of adventure certificates and medals.

Kiwi kids can also do their part for nature in their very own backyard. The programme also features a range of exciting home activities, which spur children to create lizard lounges, build insect models, kill nasty weeds, or even track their pet cat. Each home activity also earns kids a unique activity medal.

This system of earning rewards aims to motivate Kiwi kids and their families to venture into nature, and to explore the beautiful parks and reserves around the country. And as the name of the programme suggests, the ultimate goal is to develop Kiwi kids into guardians of New Zealand’s nature and environment.

Educating A Generation Of Future Leaders

This initiative is part of an ongoing commitment to nurture and conserve New Zealand’s environment. Kiwi Guardians hopes to inspire children to take action in their own local communities, and to protect the nation’s precious floral and fauna. The programme aims to inculcate a deep appreciation for nature in our future leaders, and to educate our young about the importance of conserving our green spaces – in the hopes of creating a better environment for generations to come.