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A peek at this week's Nature Discovery Programme at Ivon Wilson Park: Mika, Matthew & Liam loved undoing and doing up the stoat trap they found... Their wētā box is always a favourite stop too! On Wednesday the children were given golden tickets (autumn leaves) from a deciduous tree that had been cut in half and they had to match halves to begin their adventure with the 'golden ticket' 🍂 🍂 🍂🙃 Thank you, Fiordland Kindergarten for sharing your stories and these beautiful pics with us! 📸 John Carter & Fiordland Kindergarten

https://www.epa.govt.nz/community-involvement/open-waters-aotearoa/newsletter/feature/ Check this out! ; )

Inspiration: "Young people are the drivers of a sustainable future, and their ability to access capacity building, networking and collaboration opportunities is critical." - Manon Frezouls, YoU-CAN coordinator. https://youtu.be/QR_za7P28bI

Yesterday, Te Anau School Room 4 enjoyed a great day by the lakeshore. The students have been investigating ‘water power’ and walked to a little creek draining into Lake Te Anau to simulate flooding events. Thank you, Mrs Taylor & Room 4, for this cool video! https://youtu.be/rYwcXVL0Z4I

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Isn't this beautiful?

We are so very thrilled to share with you the eDNA data of the samples collected by Fiordland College Y10 students over the past two weeks. The Wilderlab team processed our two samples as soon as they received them and the information is now accessible to anyone! This is Citizen Science at its best 🙃 Access the link https://www.wilderlab.co.nz/explore, then zoom in to find samples 505566 (from a small creek draining into the Waiau River - Fiordland National Park) and 505567 (from the Ewe Burn). Click on each sample number to find all the information. By clicking on the taxon_id number of each species (names are all in Latin) you can find out which group each creature belongs to (e.g. mayflies, stoneflies, bony fish, deer, algae). We found some really neat stuff: koaro, gollum galaxias, longfin eel... to name a few! We knew about the koaro (a native fish in the bush stream) and the longfin eels (in the Ewe Burn), but what we didn't know was that the gollum galaxias, a very special but at risk native fish, is found so close to Te Anau (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/freshwater-fish/non-migratory-galaxiids/gollum-galaxias/)!!! The Y10 students will focus on the invertebrates (like insects, worms and snails) as certain species are given sensitivity scores (based on how tolerant to changes in its environment each organism is) that in turn help to assess the water quality of a stream. The eDNA data, together with field measurements and observations, provide the students with an incredible source of scientific information to complete their L1 Science Internal Assessment. And it doesn't stop here, as the eDNA data analysis also provides a wonderful example of contextual learning, where students are able to construct meaning based on their own experiences. All of a sudden DNA sequencing comes to life for them... so special to witness. Alessandra Menegatti KRTK Education Coordinator

Kids Restore the Kepler updated their info in the about section.

Some days in the sun and some days in the rain... A truly amazing outdoor classroom 🙃

Native galaxiids: kōaro - 'Taiaroa' Stream, Kepler Track. https://niwa.co.nz/our-science/freshwater/tools/kaitiaki_tools/species/koaro

Fiordland College Y10 Stream Study 2021. Last Friday, the students collected the second sample of eDNA. Yesterday morning both eDNA samples were sent to Wilderlab and we are now looking forward to seeing the results! Thank you, Environmental Protection Authority NZ! 📸 Y10 Students, KRTK & Chris Hawtin

How to take a water sample using an eDNA minikit

Since 2016, Fiordland College Science Department and Kids Restore the Kepler have been running a Stream Study programme with both Y10 classes. After a practice run in the Upukerora River, the students collect data from two streams with similar catchments. The data are used to assess water quality and complete a Level 1 Internal Assessment. This year, thanks to Environmental Protection Authority NZ, the Y10 students are also taking part in a new community science project, Wai Tūwhera o te Taiao. Participating groups are invited to take eDNA samples from local waterways, to discover what species are present. The results are posted on an interactive map of Aotearoa. https://www.epa.govt.nz/community-involvement/open-waters-aotearoa/explore-our-edna-map/ Environmental DNA (eDNA), refers to all the genetic material that can be sourced from the environment. When animals move through their environment, they leave behind DNA. Like ‘genetic breadcrumbs’, we can use this unique DNA 'barcode' to identify different species. This technology enables us to see what species are present in our waterways. It provides a baseline to measure the health of a stream and a way to see the ecosystem through a different lens. (Information from: H. Davidson, Science Communication and Research Advisor, EPA) 📸 Jack, Y10 Student

Not to miss! Otago Museum 'Far from Frozen' Climate Change exhibit is visiting Te Anau, in support of the Climate Change 6 x 6 speed talks event. Learn key facts about climate change and the latest science behind them. Explore Antarctica and the potential impacts of climate change using the latest in virtual and augmented reality, holographic computing and animated projection mapping technology. Check out life in a polar tent and the gear required to work and survive in Antarctica. Get to know the faces behind the science from photos and short interviews with those researching on the ice. Free Public Session on Wednesday 10 March from 4pm to 8pm, open to all!

📸 Crystal Brindle

23rd Feb 2021 - Fiordland College Y8s trapping

23rd Feb 2021 - Fiordland College Y8s trapping

Thank you for your hard work, Fiordland College Y8 boys and teachers! Catch results: 11 stoats & 5 rats 🤨 Here more pics of last Tuesday's trip 😉 📸 Alice Sutherland & Vaughn Filmer

Fiordland College Year 8's out on the 'staff lines' (9 and 1) last week before heading off to Boyd Creek for the night. It really is testament to this town that every student on the trip could make it up and down these very steep 'tracks'. Must be in the water .... A few too many stoats about which is a shame but at least some ended up in the traps! Thanks to Crystal from Department of Conservation for joining us in this mahi. And, as always, Alessandra for her enthusiasm and support of this project.

Last week, Mararoa School went out on the Kepler Track to learn about our own backyard. Alessandra spoke to us about Richard Henry, one of New Zealand's first conservationists. Richard Henry caught and then rowed 500 kakapo to Resolution Island in the late 1800's in the hopes of saving the population from introduced stoats. He built a hut to live in on the shores of Lake Te Anau. Students used team work and found objects to build their own huts. Later, we continued to the student predator trapline to learn about how we can humanely continue Richard Henry's work. We learnt so much about local history during our time in the bush, thank you for an awesome day Alessandra!

Timeline Photos

Here a few pics from our last trip in the Kepler area before Christmas. Te Anau School Room 13 spent a lovely day looking for wonderful critters, learning about some of the introduced predators and venturing along the track all the way to Dock Bay. Season’s greetings & enjoy a well-deserved break Kids Restore the Kepler friends and whanau! 📸 Karyn Gamble

Yesterday Te Anau School Room 6 and accompaning adults travelled back in time to the late 1800s and visited the site of John Jack Beer's farm on the isolated west bank of the Waiau River, in what is now Fiordland National Park. The children were absolutely fascinated with Jack's story and two improvised (and talented) actors gave away the clue to find Jack's hidden (and forgotten) treasure... This was by the Kepler's very own Christmas tree (the Pinus radiata that Jack planted more than one hundred years ago) and was definetly goldy... but edible! 🙃 📸 Sylvia Bell & KRTK