Junior Rangers at Pukaha Mount Bruce

Nina Mercer —  21/09/2015

Pukaha Mount Bruce is always an awesome place to visit with family and friends, but did you know that they also run a Junior Ranger Holiday Programme.

It’s the perfect option for the upcoming school holidays.

Nina Mercer's daughter learning about conservation at Pukaha Mount Bruce.

Learning about conservation inside and out at Pukaha Mount Bruce

My kids were stoked to be dropped off at Pukaha Mount Bruce during the July school holidays to become Junior Rangers.

North Island kākā parrot.

Junior Rangers can feed the kākā

Activities included preparing the afternoon tea for the resident kākā, visiting Manukura the little white kiwi, and getting up close and personal with a Wellington green gecko.

A Wellington green gecko.

Wellington green gecko

The kids also got to watch the eel feeding which is popular with both the Junior Rangers and other visitors.

Junior Rangers and visitors feeding the eels at Pukaha Mount Bruce.

Feeding the eels at Pukaha Mount Bruce

Lunch was included in the day (always a highlight for my kids) and they got to play some awesome inside games based around conservation learning.

Eels feeding at Pukaha Mount Bruce.

Hungry eels

Pukaha Mount Bruce is a unique and special place where you can learn all about the native species that call Aotearoa home.

Managed in partnership by the Pukaha Mount Bruce Board and the Department of Conservation, activities on the reserve are not just about advocacy. There’s an ongoing restoration project as well as captive breeding projects for several endangered species.

Feeding the kākā at Mount Bruce.

Feeding the kākā

If you think being a Junior Ranger might be something your kids are interested in you can find more information on the Pukaha Mount Bruce website.


Find a range of other conservation activities to try these school holidays on the DOC website

Nina Mercer

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Nina is a Partnerships Ranger based in Palmerston North who has worked in conservation for more than twenty years. She has a passion for our natural environment and loves exploring the outdoors, especially with her family.

3 responses to Junior Rangers at Pukaha Mount Bruce

  1. 

    Hi do you know if the Kiwi Rangers programme is still running? I see the website is looking broken. http://www.kiwiranger.org.nz/