By Rachael Pratt
The 2024 edition of STEM in the Community has seen us partner with content providers Bay Conservation Alliance and Predator Free Bay of Plenty. Together we have visited three schools in the Bay of Plenty for our STEM in the Community activation; Te Puke Primary, Kaimai School, and Pyes Pa School.
Each activation was broken into two parts over two days. The first part the tamariki were taken on a “mind journey” to explore within their imagination of what Aotearoa was like before any humans set foot here. What did it sound like? Smell like? What did it look like? We were then told about the arrival of humans and other creatures, which forever changed the landscape.
Janie from Bay Conservation Alliance took us on this journey and talked us through the arrival of different species, the harm they cause to the native environment and there were taxidermied examples of rats, cats, stoats, ferrets, hedgehogs, possums and more, that we could look at and touch.
Tracey from Predator Free Bay of Plenty then showed us examples of humane traps that are used to trap and kill pests and predators, explaining the different types of traps that were used to target certain species, how to use track cards to see what pests are in your area, and how best to go about eradicating them.
During the second session the tamariki worked in pairs to each build a rat trap tunnel, utilising wood, nails, mesh and a hammer to put these together, the children were also provided with rat traps to use inside these tunnels which they were given to keep.
We have had numerous reports, after the activation, from the teachers that some of the traps are being very successfully used to help eradicate these pests from properties in the Western Bay of Plenty.
Here are some quotes from participants:
“They all had a fabulous time and keep raving about it. So far as a class our total kills are 36! I’m looking forward to seeing how many more we get.” – Jess, teacher.
“Thank you for coming to see us at our school to teach us about rat traps and different pests/predators. I really enjoyed making the traps. I think my favourite part about the learning was actually making the traps, but I really enjoyed feeling the stuffed animals. When the traps were demonstrated they were very loud [sic] some of them, but most not so much. I enjoy the not so loud traps better. Sincerely Isabella.”
“Dear STEM in the Community, Thank you for coming to our school. My trap has caught several rats down by our garage, I have been using peanut butter and some left overs from a roast. I think these traps work really good as it teaches the younger generation to set traps and teach us about pests as well as our NZ birds. Thank you again for coming to our school. From Layla.”
STEM in the Community is a free initiative for Schools and this year has been kindly supported by Powerco, Western Bay of Plenty Council and Pub Charities. STEM Wana would also like to thank Te Puke Mens Shed for cutting the wood, mesh, and pre-drilling holes to aid in the successful builds of the traps.
If you’re interested in taking part in STEM in the Community 2025, please get in touch with the team for more information.
Kaimai School
Pyes Pa School
Te Puke School
