Learn > School visits

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School visits

Kererū | New Zealand pigeon. Photo by Shaun Lee. stet.co.nz

Enter a living classroom!

The Te Whara landscape offers students a rare opportunity to step beyond the classroom and into a real-world conservation environment. Through the Bream Head Te Whara Conservation Trust, school groups can experience hands-on learning in one of Northland’s most significant native ecosystems.

Our school visits are designed to inspire curiosity, build environmental understanding, and connect students with the natural world through meaningful, place-based learning.

What students will experience

Every visit is tailored to the age, ability, and learning goals of each group, and may include:

  • Guided walks through native forest and coastal environments

  • Introduction to predator control and trapping systems

  • Hands on experiences such as growing and planting native trees.

  • Learning about local wildlife, including native birds and species like the grey-faced petrel/ōi

  • Understanding pest plants and their impact on ecosystems

  • Exploring how conservation work is restoring Te Whara

  • Observing real conservation tools and monitoring systems in action

Curriculum connections

Our programmes support learning across multiple areas of the New Zealand Curriculum, including:

  • Science (ecosystems, biodiversity, interdependence)

  • Social sciences (kaitiakitanga and community action)

  • Health and physical education (outdoor learning and wellbeing)

  • Education for sustainability

  • Local history and cultural understanding of Te Whara

Learning in action

Te Whara is a working conservation landscape. Students don’t just learn about conservation—they see it happening. From traplines and restoration planting sites to regenerating forest and coastal habitats, every visit demonstrates how collective action is restoring the environment.

Safety and accessibility

Student safety is our priority. All visits are guided by experienced staff and volunteers, and activities are adapted to suit group needs and weather conditions.

We recommend:

  • Closed-toe walking shoes

  • Sun protection and weather-appropriate clothing

  • Water and snacks

  • A positive spirit of adventure

Some tracks and sites may be steep or uneven, but we will work with schools to ensure appropriate options are available.

We have a generic risk analysis form on request to support teachers planning a visit.

Why visit Te Whara?

A school visit helps students:

  • Build a connection to nature and local conservation

  • Develop teamwork and outdoor learning skills

  • Understand real-world environmental challenges and solutions

  • Feel empowered to take action for the environment

  • Gain a deeper appreciation for their local landscape

Book a school visit

We welcome enquiries from schools across the region.

Get in touch with the Bream Head Te Whara Conservation Trust to discuss availability, programme options, and how we can tailor a visit for your students.

Bring learning to life—right here in Te Whara.

Email: education@breamheadtrust.nz

Request learning materials

A group of children and adults gathered inside a small greenhouse on a farm, listening to a man explaining something. The greenhouse is covered with green shade cloth, and there are plants and pots around. The background shows a scenic view of rollin
A group of children and a guide in an outdoor nature setting for an educational event, with leaves and trees in the background.
A group of children and adults gathered outdoors around a tree stump, closely examining something, with some wearing rain boots, in a lush green setting.
A man with a beard and camouflage cap crouching among bushes with children, planting or working the soil, outdoors in a wooded area.
Group of people sitting and standing on a beach near water with mountains and boats in the background under partly cloudy sky.
A close-up of a wooden animal trap with a plastic shopping bag inside, containing small crawfish. There are several small insects and bugs on and around the trap, set against a backdrop of trees and greenery.