Research shows that children who spend time outdoors demonstrate more creative and imaginative play, are generally healthier, have lower stress levels, have a greater respect for themselves and others, and a greater appreciation for the environment. Studies also show that children who are encouraged in their connection to nature are more likely to become environmentally conscious in the future.
Conservation Week is the Department of Conservation’s (DOC’s) annual event celebrating our nature and giving all New Zealanders a chance to get active in conservation. It’s a full week, including 2 weekends, of inspiring activities and experiences for conservation. The week is all about raising awareness of the value of the physical, social, environmental and economic benefits of nature.
New Zealand has celebrated Conservation Week since 1969. Conservation is something everyone can participate in, whether as a business, group or individual. We all benefit from conservation, so getting involved means you’re playing an active part in protecting our future.
This year’s theme is ‘Healthy Nature Healthy People’, which is all about improving health and wellbeing by enjoying the natural spaces around us. Exposure to our natural environments has positive effects on human health and wellbeing. DOC promotes this connection between the health of our environment and our people through ‘Healthy Nature Healthy People’. We encourage getting out into natural spaces, from our backyards, urban parks and beaches to our national parks, seas, lakes and wild rivers.
Practical ways to get involved
Teachers can focus on conservation and our nature in many different ways. A range of Early Childhood Education (ECE) Conservation Resources can be found on DOC’s website or check out their Pinterest page.
DOC is running 4 national competitions which are all tailored to be child or family-friendly. Our Habitat Heroes competition has a specific prize category for ECE providers. To become Habitat Heroes, children explore their natural environment and show their findings as a group. The winning early childhood centre will receive vouchers to contribute to their conservation action project.
Join the team during Conservation Week 10–18 September 2016 by:
- getting involved in some sort of conservation-related activity
- showing us what you’ve been up to on social media by using #conservationweek in your posts, or
- post your update to DOC’s Facebook Page Wildside New Zealand.
For further information please contact Sarah Cox at DOC: conservationweek@doc.govt.nz.