Programmes
Education
The best field trip ever! Immerse your students and rangatahi in one of the three programme options below to connect, inspire and empower them to live in and with our moana. Our education sessions celebrate the biodiversity around Aotearoa NZ’s marine ecosystems, explore the importance of marine conservation, dive into threats (like overfishing keystone species, climate change, and pollution), and highlight the research and monitoring currently undertaken at UoA’s Institute of Marine Science.
For our extended programmes (1.5hr, or half-day), choose from a range of experimental, lab-based, and/or field-based workshops.
Workshop options:
- Intertidal Biodiversity ID & Adaptations (indoor lab and/or field-based)
- Dissections (indoor lab only)
- Sponge ID (indoor lab only)
- Ocean Acidification (indoor lab only)
- Feeding Strategies (indoor lab only)
Please get in touch if there are any specific topics or themes not mentioned above that are covered in class that you would like to incorporate- we will do our best to make it work.
NB: The prices outlined are for domestic school and kura groups in Aotearoa, New Zealand. If you are an international school, community or university group, please highlight that in the booking form below and we will get back to you with the programme pricing.
Option One: Standard 1hr session
15-20 mins Introductory Presentation covering:
- Marine protected areas,
- Rocky reef trophic cascades and impacts of overfishing keystone species like snapper/tāmure and crayfish/kōura,
- Historical and current research at the Institute of Marine Science. NB: Current Research can be tailored to suit themes and topics being taught at school/kura- please let us know when booking.
15 mins Big-eye Microscope activity:
- Form and function of echinoderms; seastar & kina
15 mins Exploration Tank and Aquaria:
- Rocky shore biodiversity
15 mins Scavenger Hunt or Self-exploration
Cost: For up to 20 students $9/student and for more than 20 students, $8/student; no charge for parents and teachers!
Option Two: 1.5hr session
In addition to the introductory presentation and interactive activities above (1hr), an extended 1.5hr session includes a 30min field or lab-based workshop.
30 mins Workshop Options:
- Lab-based components: choose from the workshop topics above, or get in touch for something more tailored and specific.
- Field-based components: Tied to the ‘Intertidal biodiversity ID and adaptations’ workshop, depending on student age and year group, choose from coastal and rocky shore scavenger hunts, bioblitz (MM2), transect/quadrat surveys, and allometry, along the rocky shore (tide and weather dependent).
Cost: For up to 20 students $12-15/student, and for more than 20 students, $10-13/student (depending on workshops); no charge for parents and teachers!
Option Three: 3hr session (half day)
Includes 2-3 workshop components, both indoor lab and/or field-based, on various topics, as chosen from the list above.
For up to 20 students $25/student, and for more than 20 students, $18-22/student; no charge for parents and teachers!
Tailored Experience
From triple fins to spikey invertebrates, come meet our current incredible marine residents from around our local shoreline in Leigh. Get your hands wet and stoke levels high!
Get in touch if you’d like one of our experienced staff to guide you through the Centre and exhibits for a fin-tastic visit.
Holiday Programmes
Every school holidays, we run hand-on, fun-filled holiday programmes with our friends at Young Ocean Explorers for all 8-12 year old ocean lovers and budding marine scientists in your life! **Spaces are always limited so get in quick by sending us an email or registering on the YOE website.**
We are also very excited to be putting together a brand new Discovery Centre rimuriumu/seaweeds workshop. This will be an epic summer time event so make sure to register your interest and we’ll get in touch with more details.