Tui Kids Nature School

Our once per week programme is based in Spa Park, Taupō and open to tamariki aged 5 to 11. 

The programme is holistic, it focuses on the overall development of children—social, emotional, spiritual, physical, and cognitive. Through alternating between child-led free-play periods and hands-on structured activities, children are encouraged to engage in meaningful learning that helps them to develop transferable skills and connects them to the environment around them.

Children in our programme will:

• gain confidence

• build resilience

• practice communication

• develop curiosity

• use their imagination

• learn to problem-solve independently and as a team

• begin to understand their own limitations by practicing safe risk-taking

Although we will always have a shelter rigged, the programme is outdoors and children will need to wear appropriate clothing and be equipped with spare clothing for all weather types. There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!

Our Approach

Core subjects like literacy, numeracy and science are interwoven into our structured activities. Each week has a theme and three structured activity blocks related to that theme. We offer a wide range of activities such as bivouac building, tying knots, orienteering, creating natural artwork, learning about wildlife and conservation, and team building challenges, as well as cultural activities, dress-up days, science projects and even the odd field trip! 

We also know that children develop in different areas at different times, and learn best when they are interested in a subject. Our two child-led free-play blocks are underpinned by the Kuno Beller framework, that categorises the individual child’s interests and abilities in eight different areas of development: 

1. Bodily Awareness and Care

2. Awareness of Surroundings

3. Social-Emotional Development

4. Play

5. Language and Literacy

6. Cognition

7. Gross Motor Skills

8. Fine Motor Skills

During these child-led periods we foster the individual child’s current development area, with the aim to support them to become curious and present in their learning. 

How does this work with public schooling?

Our programme falls under the New Zealand Education Act section 25B Release from school: The principal of a State school may, if satisfied that a student will receive outside the school tuition acceptable to the principal, release the student from attendance at the school, for a period or periods agreed with a parent of that student, to receive the tuition. Schools choose how they mark the children who will be attending Nature School, for example as a ‘Justified absence’ or ‘Learning offsite’.