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Offsite Education Experiences
Wonderful World of Weta
Auckland Zoo
This is a multifaceted faceted program designed to advocate for insects generally and weta specifically. The World Association of Guides Conservation Challenge for 2000 was a "SAVE IT" project where Guides would work towards a specific conservation theme. Auckland Girl Guides Association chose weta for their project and Auckland Zoo Education Service developed a four term program to meet their needs. This program could easily be adapted to other groups.
Pippins (Junior Brownies, five to six year olds), Brownies (seven to nine year olds), Girl Guides (ten to twelve year olds) and Rangers (thirteen to eighteen year olds) in the Greater Auckland region. This comprises of eighty three units involving one thousand five hundred girls.
One year, broken down into four term units with specific goals for each term.
Reduced entry cost of a visit to the Zoo on Wonderful World of Weta days.
Costs include one Zoo Educator's time liasing with the Girl Guides Regional Coordinator, a fund-raising items' manufacturer, attending three Girl Guide meetings and a small amount of a keeper's time. Postage to the 83 Girl Guide unit heads with the program package. Manufacturing cost of the "Treat a Weta Better" stickers for all participating Guides. Payment to a Zookeeper to address the two weekend "Wonderful World of Weta" talks at the Zoo. The cost is recovered through entry charges for the group.
It was promoted through the Girl Guides’ termly newsletter. This newsletter was also used to communicate the progress of the project throughout the year.
One Zoo Educator developed and co-ordinated the project. One Zookeeper assisted with factual material for the project and addressed the Wonderful World of Weta days at the Zoo.
The Auckland Regional Girl Guide Coordinator assisted greatly with advice about the Guiding movement.
Resources: A pack was sent to each Girl Guide Unit leader with the four-part program.
Term One: Research Weta; find out all you can about them, make a weta home for the back yard, play a set of weta games, make a weta model.
Term Two: Weta-thon Quiz; find the answers, Zoo passes as prizes Art-Rageous Weta; paint a great weta picture for display at the Zoo, Zoo passes as prizes. Treat-a-weta-better stickers sent to all participants.
Term Three: Sock-it-to-me; Girl guides fund raise for weta enclosures at the Zoo by selling sports socks with I Love Weta written on them.
Term Four: Wonderful World of Weta! Guides visit the Zoo and attend a weta experience with a keeper - The Great Weta Challenge. Guide groups make a giant weta model for display at the Zoo. All participating Guide groups receive a certificate of participation.
No formal evaluation but positive feedback from the Guide Co-ordinator, the girls themselves (and their families).
Nearly NZ$1000 was raised by the Guides towards Weta enclosures at the Zoo.
Auckland Zoo Education Ph: +64 9 360 3800.
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