Where will EOTC take your students in 2025?

Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) is highly valued in Aotearoa New Zealand.

A report issued by Ara Institute of Canterbury found that EOTC was very or extremely important to 96 percent of national survey respondents. Kaiako, tamariki, and school leaders said EOTC contributed to student engagement, curriculum connection and real-world learning; provided experiences for students they may not otherwise have had; and built connections and relationships within and between students, teachers, and communities.

Read the latest print edition of School News online HERE.

The report identified, however, that some students found the social and sensory nature of outdoor learning overwhelming. Educators must be aware, then, that not all students naturally experience benefits from EOTC, and that EOTC outcomes do not always organically develop from an experience.

The Ministry now encourages schools to engage in Enriching Local Curriculum (ELC) activities, partnering with community organisations to draw on local resources and expertise to provide students with authentic, hands-on/minds-on learning experiences. ELC might include a visit to the local wildlife park to complement learning on animal habitat and conservation, or a trip to the local marae to learn about tikanga. ELC experiences are not divided into subjects and should support broad curriculum outcomes.

The Ministry of Education provides guidelines for schools planning external learning. Activities should also align with your school’s policies and procedures, and facilitators should be aware of the school’s emergency management plan.

Inspiration for your 2025 EOTC adventures

Auckland Philharmonia’s Learn and Participate team provide accessible opportunities for all Aucklanders to experience live orchestral music. Every year Auckland Philharmonia provides a vast range of affordable school programmes for akōnga of all ages and abilities.

For secondary schools, The Discovery Concert at Auckland Town Hall in Term 2 is a specialised concert for secondary school students with an interest in music. The programme is a curated selection of important orchestral works, with a fun and interactive presentation to guide your students through the historical and compositional significance of each piece.

For Primary and Intermediate Schools in Term 3, students can enjoy Link Up at Due Drop Events Centre. Teachers are provided with resources to teach their students to play and sing selected songs, to finally perform with the Auckland Phil in a spectacular interactive concert.

For Intermediate and Secondary students, also in Term 3, Play In South at Due Drop Events Centre will see beginner and intermediate instrumental students sit within the Auckland Phil to workshop famous repertoire and fine-tune their ensemble playing.

Kiwi Kapers in Term 4 will be held at Aotea Centre and Due Drop Events Centre. This epic hour-long concert is suited to primary and intermediate schools, introducing them to the sights and sounds of the orchestra. The concert features special guest performers and is jam-packed with fun and educational content.

Christian Youth Camps (CYC) offer exceptional value for school groups by focusing on outdoor education, working with your school to build strong, cohesive teams and programmes built around your school’s learning objectives. CYC provide a range of activities designed to enhance leadership skills, teamwork, and personal development through engaging outdoor experiences. Your school can benefit from well-structured activities such as crate climbing, team building, bush walks, ziplining, BMX, and much more, all tailored to meet educational objectives and age-specific needs.

The team at CYC aim to emphasise building camaraderie and resilience among students, helping them develop essential life skills while enjoying an immersive environment, surrounded by well-maintained grounds, buildings, and excellent catering options. By integrating these activities into your curriculum, your school can achieve a high return on investment through improved student engagement, enhanced group dynamics, and a focus on developing Hauora. Christian Youth Camps delivers a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience that supports educational goals and fosters a strong sense of community within school groups.

Spanning 185 hectares of open space, Orana Wildlife Park is home to New Zealand’s only gorillas and is globally recognised for its contributions to breeding programs for endangered exotic and native species.

The park’s dedicated education team create bespoke programmes tailored to align with specific curriculum learning outcomes provided by classroom teachers, providing a personalised approach to ensure that each visit is enriching and bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.

To eliminate the need for schools to undertake on-site risk assessments, Orana Wildlife Park provides its own RAMS documents to participating schools.  The team can also provide pre- and post-visit assistance to enhance learning both before and after the park visit.

Learning takes place outside using the zoo as the classroom, providing students with an immersive experience as they observe incredible animals in a natural setting.  Learners will observe a range of curriculum concepts including ecosystems, animal behaviours and conservation in action.  Experienced educators interact with students, encouraging them to ask questions to foster their curiosity and help connect their studies to real-life contexts. The team are committed to nurturing a deeper understanding of the natural world and inspiring tamariki to be kaitiaki of the natural environment.

Stardome works to alleviate some of rangatahi’s stress, which can build from classwork, studying, and long hours in the library, by putting all their earth, space science, and physics knowledge into context.

 A trip to Stardome aims to support the ākonga learning in the classroom by exploring the fundamental principles of astronomy, the wonders of space, and the preciousness of our Earth. The team want rangatahi to ask the big questions – what else is out there? How far can we go? How did it all begin? All students will be encouraged to look up, feel small, but think big!

Depending on the year level, ākonga will enjoy activity-based learning in the classroom, time in the Space Gallery, and a planetarium learning experience in the 360-degree theatre. This immersive opportunity brings the concepts and ideas of astronomy and space exploration to life, giving context to what they are learning about back at school.

Located right on the waterfront, the Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony (OBPC) offers a special educational experience for students. Their popular school programme provides an immersive opportunity to learn about these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat, all in a single day.

During the daytime, students explore the colony under the guidance of experienced educators.  Gaining insights on the penguins’ habitat, adaptations, and how they have responded to human-induced changes, students will then observe penguins in their nests. As they learn from the colony’s top researchers, they will develop an understanding of the threats penguins face, and the conservation efforts needed to keep their population flourishing. 

In the evening, the penguins return from a day foraging at sea. During the evening viewing, students listen to expert guides deliver informative commentary while observing the penguins and their fascinating behaviours as they return to their nests.

The OBPC school programme is an immersive learning experience that fosters a deep appreciation for the natural world and the importance of conservation. Including the OBPC school programme into your curriculum might inspire the next generation to pursue research and conservation.  All students, whatever their interests, will come away with an enriching educational experience.

Located an easy distance from Christchurch, Hanmer Springs is a great location for school trips and camps, with multiple accommodation and activity options. Hanmer Springs Attractions operates a range of activities for school groups to enjoy in the great outdoors. Activities are offered from one central hub within easy access of the village with plenty of parking and space for lunch.

Available activities include jet boating (minimum age three years), Grade 2 river rafting (minimum age six years), bungy jumping, laser clay shooting and paintball (minimum age 10 years), and quad bike treks (minimum age 16 years). Multiple activities can be completed in a day.

Hanmer Springs Attractions is the region’s premium adventure tourism company with a strong focus on health and safety, and is Qualmark Gold and AdventureMark accredited for top safety and operating practices.

Christchurch Attractions offers multiple educational experiences including the Christchurch Tram, Christchurch Gondola, Punting on the Avon and Botanic Gardens Tour.

The Christchurch Tram allows students to be transported between key sites in iconic heritage tramcars, while listening to informative live commentary about the city’s history and stories. The Christchurch Gondola offers a fantastic sightseeing experience of Christchurch and Canterbury. Walking tracks are available to see the local geology, or students can learn about the region’s history and formation on a Discovery Ride. Catering options are available.

Enjoy the outdoors, see and learn about the river’s wildlife up close and see the plants of the Botanic Gardens while punting on the Avon. A Botanic Gardens Tour helps students learn about the Botanic Gardens with a guided tour on board an electric shuttle, with live commentary about the Botanic Gardens’ unique plants and history.

An educational adventure with Christchurch Attractions is an ideal way to explore the region’s iconic attractions.

Auckland Zoo is a world-renowned conservation learning provider. Its mission is to connect young people with wildlife, building a generation of conservation scientists for the future. Auckland Zoo learning sessions are run by a team of expert facilitators who have a wealth of education experience.

Interactive sessions draw on local and global conservation and wildlife science to provide tamariki with experiential learning that complements the New Zealand Curriculum, Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, and Te Whāriki.

The team are passionate about wildlife conservation and inspiring tamariki on the role we all play as kaitiakitanga and as part of te taiao (the environment). Zoo staff lead by example, with optimism, with expertise, and with passion. By connecting today’s tamariki with wildlife, nature, and conservation, an Auckland Zoo visit can foster passion and empathy for wildlife and wild places.

The education programme has been developed with the latest wildlife conservation science in mind. The wealth of education experience within the team has also been drawn on to ensure learning experiences are engaging and informative and inspire informed action from our younger citizens.

Conservation learning visits are also available online with virtual sessions, a great way to bring Auckland Zoo to you.

NZ Surf Academy works with hundreds of children each year and has seen first-hand the happiness those children experience when surfing. Surfing is not just a sport, it’s something that will challenge, educate and inspire. Surfing has no age limit, no height limit, and no limit to what time of year it takes place. The team at NZ Surf Academy can facilitate a surfing experience for everyone through all four seasons of the year.

NZ Surf Academy offers a variety of programmes, from Beach Safety Days to NCEA Achievement standard courses. Programmes can be tailored to suit any age group, from primary school to high school and adult hood.

Working with NZ Surf Academy, children learn safe risk-taking as they assess which waves to take and how best to approach them, patience while they wait for the perfect wave, and resilience through getting up and trying again when they endure a wipe out. Surfing helps children to face their fears and feel proud of their efforts when they catch their first wave, which will hopefully be the first of many.

With 15 years of experience and more than 250 schools under their belt, the team pride themselves on being one of NZ’s top surf education providers.

Kokako Lodge has a unique location inside the Hunua Ranges Regional Park, making the camp the perfect place to immerse your students in nature. A wide range of outdoor activities are available with enthusiastic and experienced instructors.

Here you can hike in the ranges, build rafts to float in the pool by the famous Hunua Falls, and take your students to new heights on the challenging high ropes course. There’s the always-popular archery, orienteering, team-building games, low ropes, a Burma trail and even a glow worm trail.

The camp is well equipped to handle up to 100 campers in cabins, with 82 bunk beds and extra mattresses. Kokako Lodge features a large commercial kitchen and dining hall, heaps of outdoor space and a multipurpose room with a smart TV. Groups can either self-cater to keep costs down, or you are welcome to bring a caterer of your choice.

The beginning of the year is an important time for class team building and MOTAT’s team of qualified educators can provide your students with engaging hands-on, minds-on EOTC STEAM experiences. MOTAT’s Learnable kits provide great opportunities for collaboration while building class communication and key competencies, while the STEAM Cell resource trailers and online workshops provide exciting in-class experiences.

Whether you are looking for an out-of-school visit including rich experiences and inspirational activities or an education programme delivered at your school, MOTAT can provide customised learning opportunities for you and your students. With a range of topics from Design Thinking and Digital Technologies to the Science of Sound and Electricity, MOTAT has something to suit all learning objectives.

Read our 2025 EOTC Supplement online HERE