Collaborating at ‘Eye on Nature’ Annual Event

Eye on Nature is an annual event organised by the Beautification Trust Manurewa and Garden to Table Trust have been excited to attend over the last few years as an opportunity to showcase our mahi to local schools.  

Eye on Nature School Days is the Beautification Trust's annual environmental education event for South and East Auckland primary schools. This free event empowers tamariki to become environmental heroes of the future, with hands-on activities and engaging lessons to connect with te taiao (the environment) and learn how to be more sustainable in everyday life. 

The theme for the event this year was Wellbeing – Taiao and Me. 

Staff from the Heat Foundation, Garden to Table and Healthy Active Learning at Eye on Nature in Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland

Through existing connections and collaborative work, Garden to Table’s South Auckland Regional Coordinator teamed up with the Heart Foundation and Healthy Active Learning to deliver 8 workshops over 2 days at the event. The team decided to go with a workshop about ‘Learning and exploring the different fruits and vegetables that each season brings and their benefits to our health and wellbeing.’ 

The Garden to Table curriculum resource ‘Zero Food Waste / Pare Kai Kore’ provided the lesson plan and activity for the workshops, this resource was also provided in the event pack to all the 48 schools who attended the event over the 4 days. You can view and download the resource here.  

All the workshops started with introductions and discussion on the event’s theme of wellbeing, in particular Te Whare Tapa Wha- a holistic health model. Students gave great summaries and insights to the theme which led nicely to kōrero around how what we eat can influence our wellbeing.  

With food now on the mind the concept of eating in season was introduced highlighting its benefits in terms of food miles, knowing the whakapapa (history and origins) of kai, low cost and nature providing what we need. Educators from Garden to Table, Heart Foundation and Healthy Active Learning facilitated groups to create a seasonal eating wheel using the tamariki’s existing knowledge and connections to kai.  

Students were proud of their seasonal wheels and each group presented back to class highlighting their favourite fruit or vegetable. For those classes that went through the activity quickly a seasonal produce basket was handed around with students picking out familiar or unfamiliar fruits or vegetables. Kōrero (conversation) around the textures, smell, taste and colours of these were wide ranging. 

In total 212 students participated in our Seasonal Eating Wheel Workshop along with 39 adults. 

Working collaboratively with the Heart Foundation and Healthy Active learning was a great experience where skills and resources were utilised between organisations.  

“It was so great to work as a team (and we did really well) – to share the load and learn from each other, and for other organisations to see us promoting the same messages.” Tina Buch Heart Foundation Nutrition Advisor 

“Collaborating with Heart Foundation and Healthy Active Learning meant sharing the load of responsibilities and tasks and working to one another's strengths as well as an opportunity to grow our skills. For that, I am grateful and thank you sincerely.” Candace Weir – Garden to Table South and East Auckland Regional Coordinator 

Tēnā koutou – acknowledgement and thanks to all the educators involved and Beautification Trust for putting on another great Eye on Nature School Days event. We would also like to thank Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Foundation for their support of Garden to Table in the South Auckland Region.