Kaitiaki / Nature Guardian Training - A Powerful mash up of ecotherapy, leadership mentorship, bush craft, rights of passage, and food forest creation. Designed to help us rewild Wellington Schools.
Instead of sitting in a classroom all day, we’re out in the dirt turning unused school spaces into thriving food forests. Think hands-on learning, leadership development, and a whole lot of real-world impact.
What’s in it for students?
✅ Bushcraft & Agroforestry: Learning how to grow food in a way that actually works with nature.
✅ Mentorship: Older students guide younger ones, passing down skills.
✅ Leadership: Students run the show—from planning to planting.
✅ Cultural Connection: Bringing back traditional food-growing wisdom and making it relevant today.
Why Should Schools Care?
📍 Train for Teachers in Ecotherapy – The trust that runs the program gives a teacher at the school a spot in the Ecotherapy training program.
📍 Better engagement – Some students thrive in nature way more than in class. "I'm so much better in school because I get a break in the middle of the week and I get to do stuff that I love. It fills my tank to go back in the classroom." Mason - Maidstone Intermediate
📍 Real impact – Your school gets a food forest that benefits students for years to come.
This started as a small project in Upper Hutt in 2024, but now we’re going regional in 2025. We’re backed by Every Body is a Treasure Trust, and students are fully in charge.
