Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Cleardale Wetland Trip


There is a summary movie of our trip

First we came to school in our gumboots and waterproof gear thinking it was going to rain. Then we got all our stuff together, got into our groups, hopped into the 4wd trucks and drove to the woolshed at Cleardale. We asked Donna our questions that were really hard to answer. Then we drove up the hill for the view over the wetlands. Donna talked to us about the Rakaia River and its history, matagouri, glaciers and spring water that goes into the hill and comes up into the wetland. Then we went down the 4wd track to where fish and game were waiting to show us how they are helping the salmon to breed.

We walked back down the muddy track and drove up to the fish and game hatchery. Dirk showed us the eggs with little eyes. Kelvin and Dirk got in to the fish tanks to catch fish in buckets for us to release into the wild. It was weird the fish jumped around in the buckets when we released them they turned over on their backs because the temperature of the water changed. We had to turn the fish over and help them swim away. They will swim down the Rakaia River and out to sea. 2% of them will return to the hatchery.

We drove from the hatchery to the wetland and saw a wild deer jumping fences. Donna explained that fencing off stops stock getting in and eating the plants like pukio. We climbed the fence and searched for invertebrates we found 15 boatman 6 mayfly larva 2 blood worms 1 leech and a few snails. Invertebrates are important to all animals in a wetland.

This trip was fantastic and we learnt heaps. It wouldn’t have been possible with out the help from parents, the time and effort put in by Donna and Ben from Cleardale farm, Dirk and Kelvin from Fish and game and Ricky Otaki's amazing photos. We owe you all a big thank you.
B. P, Caleb, Gabriel, Yash, Bro 

27 comments:

  1. Mr cook I did not know how fun the wetland trip could of been if I was not there.It was the funst thing in my life.I would like to go again.

    M.D.R

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  2. I liked the wetland tip I also liked letting 5000 fish into the creek. It was cool seeing the white heron and 8 black swans. Hopefully the class enjoyed it. Thank you for organising it Mr Cooke.HF

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  3. My brothers and mum and I really like the photo.Thank you Mr Cook for taking me to the wetland I relly enjoyed it.
    mp

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  4. I loved the photo of bp holding the container of bugs. Thank you
    Mr Cook and Parents. Good photos Ricky pj

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  5. Thank you for organising the trip Mr Cooke.I LOVED it.I love
    Ricky Otaki's photos they where AMAZING.Yer thanks to all the help.Ones again thanks Mr Cooke.

    ALEX.B

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  6. Thanks for an amazing trip Mr Cooke, So proud of all our children. Thank you very much for my wonderful cards, especially my white swan/heron QM, i love it! Glad you all enjoyed the hills.
    How lucky were we with the weather and our own photographer along!

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  7. I like the wetland trip. I like the birds.
    The photos were good

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  8. It was a great day.They are good photos.SF

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  9. Very good photos Rickey.Nice recount GN CC BP BW and YP.I like the white heron photo (its an endangered bird) its a piece of art! Mr cookie (cooke)

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    Replies
    1. sorry sorry it is TT from TT

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    2. You don't have to thank me TT. YP

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  10. It does't matter Mr Cook anyway I showed my mum & Dad they thought it was exhilarate and I liked it to.If we get the photo's that Ricky took and put it on the school website we would be pip sceek for us to win.Bey this is from YP.

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  11. Some great comments guys. Glad to see Mrs P enjoyed the trip too.

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  12. Cool video Mr Cooke. Really liked the trip so much FUN! I'm allowed to use You tube. Showed Mum & Dad the video they really like it. Do you know how Quin went.

    ALEX.B

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  13. It was a great time oh and im not allowed on youtube coz anything can happen.
    I wish that we could go agian if we could im going to bring my camrea.
    grandad made me drink black sauce i can bring same to school so you can try mr cookie.
    will i love metting dona she is really nice.
    it was fun learning more about wetlands mr cookie you are one of the nices teachers ever and from your funess it's easyer to learn i'v never had a better time then going on theses trips.
    i showed matt the photos he keeped on going on about wheres the photo of penny filling in the water.
    i'v got more info of the white heron it took me along time for it but i did it i got near 4 pages of info.
    oh and one more thing dose dona have more anamils then that and how did she get all of the invertebrates thanks for the trip
    MMH

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  14. Rikis photos were amazing I liked the white heren it was pretty cool to, my mum and dad said yes i am aloud to go on u tube for the video.

    fj

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  15. Cool video Mr Cook and good photos from rickey Caleb.c

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  16. The trip sounded interesting, especially the fish hatchery.

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  17. Nice writing guys Ben,Celeb,Gabriel,Yash,Bro.

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  18. You kids are so lucky. What a great time you had. We loved seeing the photos of Ben. Thanks Mr Cooke. Grandad and Grandma in the U.K.

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