Is there life after KCC?

Forest and Bird, Issue 279, 1 February 1996, Page 8

Is there life after KCC?

CONSERVATION needs young people. Forest and Bird recognised this need when, in 1988, members voted to set up a children’s conservation group. The Kiwi Conservation Club was born, and has grown to its present membership of 6,000, including 700 schools, with about 30 local clubs offering nature activities and family outings. But KCC caters only for children, not for teenagers. KCC leaders watch with regret as children outgrow the club, and drift away. These young people will be choosing careers and forming opinions which will shape their lives. What can Forest and Bird offer to inform

and interest them in natural science and conservation? A couple of suggestions are being canvassed. One is a club for adolescents. A successful model might be the Hamilton Junior Naturalists, a very successful group for eleven to seventeen year olds. Weekly meetings with a variety of speakers regularly attract thirty members. On day trips and camps, members explore the countryside, collect data, and monitor species. A focal point and destination is Te Kauri, near Raglan, their very own lodge and bush reserve. While members help with the organisation, the continuing success of the club depends on the enthusiasm and charisma of a few adult leaders. Clubs such as these could be fostered in different parts of the country. The second idea is to make use of the rapidly growing arena of electronic media, specifically the Internet, a form of communication adopted avidly by young people. It is an avenue offering a door into every school and an increasing number of homes in New Zealand. Using Forest & Bird and Conservation News as sources, real conservation case studies could be provided for teachers and students to discuss. This would be well researched, provocative, and updated monthly. Conservation is a part of the biology and geography syllabuses, and increasingly should connect with economics, commerce and engineering. While the format lacks the intimacy of a "club’, it has the advantages of being available to a wide audience. The two ideas complement one another, with electronic media providing a ready means of communication between individuals, clubs, schools and Forest and Bird. Joe Crandle (executive member) and Ann Graeme (KCC coordinator) would welcome your ideas. Write to them c/- Box 631, Wellington.