Take Action for Water is an innovative and exciting way to help young people learn about and take responsibility for their environment. It is an educational programme you can use to help 8-12 year olds understand the impacts they, their families and communities have on the environment.

Take Action for Water is real learning for real life. Students not only learn about environmental issues, they do something about them. Take Action requires students to take responsibility for the problems they discover and act to solve those problems, using solutions they have come up with themselves. It empowers young people to become environmental role models for their families and communities.

The focus of Take Action for Water is fresh water. Students investigate and explore the causes of pollution and water wastage in local streams and rivers, and then take action with solutions. It covers issues such as the importance of water, pollution, storm water, kaitiakitanga (guardianship), water conservation, and environmental restoration.

The programme can be integrated across the curriculum and is divided into three stages (fulfilling the best practice guidelines for environmental education established by the Ministry of Education). Over the eight or so weeks it takes to do the programme, students:

• Investigate - about the environment;
• Explore  – in the environment; and
• Take Action - for the environment.

If you want to cover other environmental issues as well as water, Take Action can help you do this. The programme’s flexible nature means it can be easily adapted to cater for a range of environmental issues and school interests. Topics such as recycling, waste reduction, composting, coastal issues, biodiversity and re-vegetation can be easily incorporated. Resources are available to support all of these options. The programme can also be done in te reo mäori. There are printed resources to go with this option as well.

Greater Wellington can provide experienced teachers and environmental educators (the Action Crew) to support you as you do the programme or you may follow the instructions here or in the resource book to undertake the programme 'self-guided'.

Either way, Take Action for Water is a great experience for students and teachers alike, full of hands-on learning, and fully supported with resources, equipment, and helpful advice from our environmental experts.

There are two ways your school can undertake Take Action for Water - guided by the educators from Greater Wellington or self-guided.

Each year we can provide the guided programme for up to fifteen schools in the Wellington region (four classes per school). Schools taking the guided option get support from the Action Crew through every stage in the programme.

If you take the self-guided option, you will still get lots of help. This includes teacher training, stream testing equipment, health and safety advice, and our introductory multi-media road show for kids. We also provide help with funding for transport for field trips, and to do those exciting ‘action projects’.

We are happy to tailor our programme to meet your needs wherever possible.

To find out more about the programme, how it works and links to the curriculum, click on the pdfs on this page.

If you want to go further with environmental education there is plenty of help for you here as well. You can get a copy of the Environmental Education guidelines through Learning Media.

If you would like to register for the programme or would like more information, please contact us.