Outdoor Education
Experience our award-winning outdoor education programme.
From forest school to camps, learning to sail on Boat Day, or participating in swimming, basketball, netball, and athletics, Matahui School offers an award-winning outdoor education programme.
Our Education Outside the Classroom
Our education outside the classroom (EOTC) activities have specific learning objectives – both academic and skills-based. We find that by building confidence outside the classroom, our students transfer that willingness to learn and face challenges into the classroom.
Guardians of the Forest
Forest and Nature School
Each week, rain or shine, our young explorers spend the day fully immersed in nature, building makeshift shelters, exploring meandering streams, and overcoming challenges as part of a forest and nature school programme.
The forest and natural environment are the ideal classroom for learning. Students explore concepts like science, music, and art, learn about native plants, their importance as ronga rākau (remedies) and Rongoā, and discover what it means to be kaitiaki (guardians) of our natural environment. It provides opportunities to develop practical skills such as building, using tools, foraging, and cooking with fire.
There is ample time to play, explore, create and challenge themselves in a safe way, which helps children develop independence, self-esteem, and life skills such as teamwork and problem-solving.
The guiding principles of the programme emphasise, outdoor education exploring natural spaces to develop social and technical skills. It is coordinated by an experienced forest school teacher and guided by the Forest Schools Association framework. The programme is available to all Matahui School students.
Full-time enrolment not an option? Give your child a taste of Matahui with our One Day Forest School.
Camps
Camps form a core part of our EOTC programme. In 2012, we were awarded the EONZ Outdoors Award for our camp programme.
Our Year 7 and 8 students spend more than 30 days per year learning outside the classroom, which includes attending four camps per year. These camps include a beach and water safety camp, a visit to Lake Tarawera, an extended hike, and a combined camp with Year 5 and 6 students.
Camps are an integral component of our Year 7 and 8 Leadership Programme. Each camp is designed to challenge our students and develop their leadership skills so they evolve into confident teenagers who are prepared to try new things and persevere when things get tough.
Sport
We provide a balanced physical education programme that encompasses strands of the New Zealand curriculum. Our students compete at Small Schools and Tall Poppy events, and are well-represented at North Cluster and Bay of Plenty events.
We have hockey and basketball teams in winter and teach swimming in the summer. All Year 7 and 8 students can participate in the AIMS games. Our school has a proud history of nurturing high achievers in sport, including Olympians.
Sporting opportunities
- Basketball
- Hockey
- Netball
- Swimming (interschool competitive and non-competitive)
- Athletics
- Volleyball
- Cross-country
- WeetBix Triathlon
- Amazing Race
- AIMS Games
Boat Day
Every year, our students enjoy a fantastic day out at the Ōmokoroa Domain for the school’s annual Boat Day. As part of the event, children participate in various activities, including kayaking, tubing, sailing (using an Optimist dinghy), and beach Olympics.
This event started in 1989 to provide our tamariki with a hands-on learning experience in and around water. It’s now an annual tradition and is a fun family day for students, teachers, and parents.
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