At Bear Park, we foster the belief that “In Māori culture, humans are seen as deeply connected to the land and to the natural world” (Royal, 2007) and have integrated this into our own culture and philosophy. We take pride in encouraging our children to embark in a journey of opportunities and possibilities through the living world. As their Kaiako it is our role to support children in establishing these relationships and extending the child’s awareness of being Kaitiaki. With this in mind, we recognise and sustain strong values when respecting and caring for our environment, the land.
kaitiaki
1. (noun) trustee, minder, guard, custodian, guardian, caregiver, keeper, steward.
Our children are greatly inspired by the living world and are actively involved in protecting and persevering their land. We view our garden as being a sacred space, a space we can make connections, find joy and appreciation for our true aroha for our surroundings. This environment enables our children to be researchers and competent learners healthy in mind, body and spirit.
An ongoing interest amongst out centre is our vegetable patch located in our pre-school garden. This is an area which has been brought to life by our children’s passionate and nurturing selves. The vegetable patch is filled with an array of fresh herbs and root vegetables. As we dived into this area of learning our children have since begun to recognise the importance of cultivating our gardens for food and produce.
Each child takes their role of being kaitiaki in their own stride. They view themselves as being protectors of the land and are serious in maintaining a strong relationship with the living world. Moments with nature are precious and an aspect of this which our children idolise are the insects, whom we share our garden with. We often find these insects hidden underneath logs, in tree trunks and amongst the soil. These creatures inspire us to build upon our connections, and in turn we view our relationship with these insects as equal.
All together, we nurture an environment which is respectful and one we treat with kindness to allow each of us to recognise our outdoor garden as a loving ‘home’.
“This is what keeps the spirit of the garden and the land alive. As we care for and nurture our living world, the land can thrive and create meaningful experiences for us to partake in.”
Our children have assisted with the process of planting, and they themselves have planted some of the vegetables that we can now see are in full bloom such as carrots and potatoes. The beauty of the vegetable patch is that it is displayed in the centre of the preschool garden, enabling access for all of our children to visit daily and monitor its growth and observe for any changes. There is a beautiful phrase;
Aroha mai, Aroha atu (Love given, Love returned).
This is what keeps the spirit of the garden and the land alive. As we care for and nurture our living world, the land can thrive and create meaningful experiences for us to partake in.
In light of this, the children’s presence is well known and it is through their determination and resilience that sparks courage and leadership. As the children stand within the mist of the vegetable patch, they ponder with their thoughts, questions and reasons, actively gaining knowledge and refining their working theories. Our children’s process of understanding is phenomenal. They are becoming familiar with the science behind planting, in particular with the concept of cause and effect. This refers to the survival of plants and contributing factors; water, weather, environment and animals. Since beginning this journey and upon their visits, they now fully understand the need for these contributing factors. Each child takes great pride in showering the garden with warmth and care; watering the garden supports their need to be at one with the living world. Our children have gained new skills and are enjoying the responsibility that comes with being kaitiaki.
We have also been busy exploring the concept of ‘garden to table’ where the children can see first hand, the cycle of planting, harvesting and bringing the vegetables inside to the kitchen. This creates a unique dining experience. Within this experience, the children are presented with the opportunity to ignite their sense of taste and touch when exploring the home-grown vegetables. The purpose of this is to encourage children to make connections and new suggestions. Preparation is a key aspect of the process of bringing ‘garden to table’ and it was our children’s duty to contribute towards some of these aspects. The harvesting of vegetables and washing of this created belonging and empowerment. Our children are active in their approach, which provides them with the need and enthusiasm to continue in this relationship. This knowledge has since supported the children with their ecological practices and with the concept of building upon sustainable living.
Through each generation, the spirit of being Kaitiaki lives on. As our journey continues, we hope to achieve sustainable living through the art of composting. We view ourselves as being role models to our community and that of the wider world, responsible of and to be guardians of the; land/whenua, sea/moana and forest/ngahere. The power in our steps to achieving this is embedded into our rituals as a centre.
– Laura Westwater, Bear Park St Heliers
If you’re interested in booking a tour to visit our infant/toddler room, we’d love to show you around. Head to Book a Tour to organise a booking.
