Rangatahi from Mokoia had been looking forward to this activity. They were keen to get their hands dirty, pick up some shovels and plant natives across their school grounds. One such native was pittosporum varieties. Pittosporum eugenioides (lemonwood) not only makes an attractive hedge but is an attractive source for bees. It seems there are about 28 species of native bees in New Zealand, of which 27 are endemic to NZ. A landscaper volunteered to assist the group and discuss the various natives and their effect on the soil.

As students dug and planted, they were actually increasing the carbon footprint of the school and providing a sustainable feeding ground for our native bees. What a fun morning!!

The event was also tied to coding and drone flying. Coding is a universal language and the more we invest in teaching these skills, the better our youth become at problem-solving, critical thinking and expressing their creativity. It was awesome to see such high levels of student engagement in devising simple programs and in navigating their drones across a range of obstacles.

Heavy rains and winds prevented the activity from running outdoors. Notwithstanding, there was wonderful energy as PTC workshops continue to spark curiosity in a range of STEM-related programs across Aotearoa.