Education Programmes

We offer a number of educational opportunities based at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The programmes are designed to stimulate the interest of students in issues surrounding our indigenous flora and fauna, conservation work undertaken at the park with the NZCT, and a general overview of environmental and sustainable practices. A hands on approach with the opportunity for active participation is offered, especially in the inquiry and immersion options. 

Teaching our children about the natural environment, its flora and fauna and how to care for our world is one of the most important issues facing humans today. Children learning from each other and mentors about issues that are ecologically and environmentally vital to the existence of our planet is going to bring about change in the way future generations view our planet. Teaching children through immersing them in projects that will show them how they can make a difference is the most effective way to preserve our native flora and fauna.

The Travelling Tuatara will come to visit your students in the classroom -  Enjoy an informative exciting visit from a New Zealand Conservation Education Officer which supports a range of topics from dinosaurs to conservation to looking at different features of animals.  

Join our Immersion Program - work alongside a diverse range of people to establish an sustainable self-sufficient organic food garden.  The food garden is a hands on continuous program designed to teach principles of environmental food production  with a difference!  This garden is to provide a diverse range of fresh, chemical free food for the animals at the reserve which includes native food bearing crops for our native animals.

Our Inquiry Project options allow you to work with one of our Education Officers to design a project which suits the needs of your students.  The projects can be based at the reserve, at your school or a mixture of both venues.  The emphasis is on self-directed learning which incoporates research, design and construction components which have an outcome for conservation work.  We love to hear your ideas for these projects.  

Reserve Visits are available to all school groups.  We invite you to share an exciting, hands on visit where your group will be able to interact closely with many of the animals as well as guaranteed kiwi viewing in New Zealands premier kiwi display.

Guided Tours of the Native New Zealand section are available during your visit.  These informative tours give your group an in depth look at some of our native animals and the conservation work which is undertaken with these species.

For more information regarding educational opportunuties please contact us