Planting trees in the mist, for Workskills course
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img src="http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/1706/43839243dd38c017aa66.jpeg" width="400" height="227">
Braving the cold, the mist, and quite a lot of mud, Ara Institute of Canterbury Workskills students cheerfully
contributed two hours of their time to tree planting on the Port Hills yesterday.
Nine students participated from the New Zealand Certificate in Skills for Living (NZCSL), a one year full time course
for students with a learning disability.
The planting was organised by the Christchurch City Council (CCC) Park Rangers at Mt Ada, on the Port Hills, which was
badly damaged by the fire in February. In total there were 600 trees to plant with some 80 people from the community
participating.
“The Park Ranger that we worked with, Dan, told the students that they did a fantastic job and were the friendliest
bunch that he had worked with!” Ara Workskills tutor Sheryl Hayman said.
The students participated in the planting as part of one of four NZCSL courses, Responsible Citizenship, which had a
focus on sustainability this semester. NZCSL students have learning disabilities and may have an Intellectual
Disability, Autism, Aspergers or Downs Syndrome and physical challenges such Cerebral Palsy.
“The opportunity to participate in the tree planting day gave rise to an assessment in Community Participation. Despite
some anxiety about what to expect, and having to relate to others in their community, the students rose to the occasion,
did a fantastic job and their feedback was overwhelmingly positive,” Hayman said.
ends