Planting trees in the mist, for Workskills course

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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.

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