Since mid-November our team, with the help of newcomers Niall Mackay and Te Kawa Robb, have been running educational presentations and coastal clean-ups around the Wellington region as part of our third Love your Coast Wellington event. This year’s project has seen over 3,000 people remove 33,000 litres of rubbish from the region’s coastlines – the most people we have ever had involved in a clean-up, anywhere! To all of the students, school teachers, sponsors and volunteers that helped us make this happen, a huge thank you.
Part of this event was a very special day working with Meridian Energy along the wild West Wind farm coastline in Makara. The combined efforts that day have set the bar high with another record, as 115 volunteers removed an average of over 200 litres of rubbish per person, our largest effort yet. This is all the more impressive when you consider that we only cleaned up for a couple of hours.
Event details
From Monday 12 November and Wednesday 12 December 2012 we are once again coordinating an educational roadshow and series of coastal clean-up activities in the wider Wellington region. This is the opportunity for your school to receive an educational presentation and/or an organised clean-up of your local coastline at no cost.
Our experienced presenters will visit your school at a time that suits you during the roadshow. They will use imagery, short films and interact with the students to build an understanding about the challenges of marine debris and motivate them to work hands on to look after their local stretch of coastline.
We also provide coordination, rubbish sacks, gloves and health & safety equipment for cleaning up the coast, all at no cost. Transport for your students, however, must be organised by the school.
Presentations and clean-up activities are open to every school in the Kapiti, Hutt Valley, Wellington and Wairarapa regions but places are limited so please register now to secure your school’s participation.
We will provide (at no cost to your school):
All equipment required (gloves, sacks, first aid kits, hi-vis vests for leaders and a ROSA audited health and safety plan).
Student consent forms: Download here.
Risk Analysis and Management System (RAMS) information: Download here.
Promotion of your school’s involvement.
What you need to do:
Please register now if you would like your school to be a part of this fantastic activity. We will reply promptly to confirm your involvement and make further arrangements with your school. For more information, please contact us on 09 948 8454 or email [email protected]
Testimonials
“We had a great time this a.m. and are really proud of our efforts. Personally, I am amazed at the share volume of stuff we collected. We had several elderly locals, give thanks to the kids – and even marshmallows! This was very touching…Thanks again for all the resources. We would be keen to make this an annual event.”
Kate Jensen – Plimmerton School
“Thank you for coming to do the presentation for our children, they really got a lot out of it. One of the little 5 year olds shared about going the beach in the weekend and picking up some rubbish that she found close to a drain. My children all wrote a story after your presentation.”
Jeanelle Ymker, Pukerua Bay School
“The kids are coming out with stuff which shows they have a real appreciation of what it’s all about.”
Fiona D’Souza, St Patricks Primary School
“Your presentation was excellent and made a big impact on the children”
Kaye Gilman, Paraparaumu Beach School
“Thanks for visiting both groups yesterday. The children really enjoyed themselves and were proud of their efforts. We hope to make the coastal clean-up a regular event on our school calendar from now on. An added bonus was that on the walk home some of the children noticed the Miramar Bush track needs cleaning up too, so I can see the left over sacks getting lots of use next year!”
Tracey Arthurs, Miramar North School
“Our kids have just written a letter to themselves to be opened in 20 years – for a time capsule. A large number of them wrote that the biggest problem in the world is pollution and wondered if it would be sorted out or fixed in 20 years. Here’s hoping, maybe some of them will come up with good solutions. It is good to see their social conscience being developed, thanks so much for your help with that.”
Gail Dewar, Makara Model School
“Your influence in the school community has been wonderful!”
Geraldine Smart, Hutt Valley High School
“Our students commented on how much they enjoyed their Coastal Cleanup. We also completed our bin project over the following two days, which made sense to the students as they now understood how litter dropped in the schoolyard becomes runoff into the harbour.”
Janet Glenn, Onslow College
