Teacher in the Paddock

Teacher in the Paddock A living 'hands-on' classroom for children to connect with nature, food, the animal world, and themselves
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Teacher in the Paddock is a charity operated by Kevin Powell a primary teacher, and Jane, gardening guru who shares their wealth of knowledge about food. We host school groups, kindergarten children and early childhood centers, where they experience the wonder of milking our house cows, feeding chickens and learning about composting, worm farming and growing our food. Our aim is to foster the connection we feel to nature through understanding where our food comes from and what it does to us. We also host workshops in topics such as culturing, fermenting, cheese-making and other life giving foods.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME THURSDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2026Today was the very last day of our Day Programme for Term 3...
24/09/2026

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME THURSDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2026

Today was the very last day of our Day Programme for Term 3. This term has sped by.
At feeding time some children put horse helmets on and helped take covers of all the horses.
After morning tea we spent the rest of the morning working with 3 of our horses, really getting close with them, and they had lots of pampering. Nacho had one of his favourite humans showing the children just how smoochy he actually can be. 💕

Lunch was Mac n Cheese. 😋😋😋 We did duck eggs as well as chicken, and with a dash of cayenne pepper, it was the best.

For the afternoon we went up the hillside paddock. Here the sun was amazing. We rested, observed the wider farm and valley around, then some pest trees were delt to.
Back at the woolshed and there was time to do sticks, and say our goodbyes for the term.
We look forward to seeing some of these children and youth in the holidays.

Thank you to all this crew on Thursday. It has been a spectacular term, full of friendship, fun and learning.💕💜

AFTERSCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME / JUNIOR HORSEMANSHIP WEDNESDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2026The last week of the Term can be so m...
23/09/2026

AFTERSCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME / JUNIOR HORSEMANSHIP WEDNESDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2026

The last week of the Term can be so much fun, and for 2 riding students, it was more that fabulous. These students received certificates. WOHOO. On the certificates was all their achievements this term. There was smiles all round. Thank you Eden and Heidi.

In the woolshed we have beautiful daffodils. ❤ And the fragrance is amazing. Some of us then walked up the hillside and looked at the gorse. Many are in flower and almost going to seed, so with our extractagator tool we removed those who posed a threat, as this plant is a pest w**d. The cows unfortunately do not eat it, and it slowly takes over in the pasture.

Thank you everyone. A great afternoon.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME WEDNESDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2026It was such a wonderful day for these children in the last...
23/09/2026

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME WEDNESDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2026

It was such a wonderful day for these children in the last week of the term.
At morning circle the children welcomed 2 wwoofers from Korea who are friends. We then had some lovely discussion about what they would think a good friend would look like, and why would they want to have a good friend. During the day the children then found some great ways to make a friend. They helped to take the chickens food bucket. Before lunch 2 children shared stories from books, and when we were playing our pinball game an older child helped a younger child with writing numbers. 💕
Lunch today was apple crumble. The children have been asking the last couple of weeks for this, and every Wednesday morning there has been some serious nutcracking going on. Roasted macadamia nuts in the toping is so good, and one child said it was the best apple crumble ever.!!!

For the afternoon Kevin took us to the top of the farm where we gathered macadamia nuts and observed the Alpacas, and other animals.
As we walked back it started raining, and while in the Ghost Trees it started to hail. The children were catching the hail in there mouth. It was a great experience to be out in it.
Back at the woolshed, a stick was finished and everyone played bagatelle.
Such a great day with all the rest being in the photos. 👍👏💕

AFTERSCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME TUESDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2024This afternoon it was Apple Crumble on the menu, and with Mac...
22/09/2026

AFTERSCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME TUESDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2024

This afternoon it was Apple Crumble on the menu, and with Macadamia nuts in the topping, it was delicious 😋😋😋

We headed out on the farm today, and more debris was found in the river that is from the tornado earlier this year.
Fungi are also starting to appear in hidden places, and tidying of a hut continued.
Back at the woolshed sticks were done, while some fed chickens and gathered eggs.

Thank you everyone to contributing to a great week for the last week of Term 3.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME TUESDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2026 GOLDEN SANDS SCHOOLToday was the last day of the term for t...
22/09/2026

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME TUESDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2026 GOLDEN SANDS SCHOOL

Today was the last day of the term for this Tuesday group, and some were so keen to get there sticks finished so they were ready to go home. We talked about the magic that the sticks hold, and most children believe there stick might turn someone into a frog. We told the children that all the work that they have put into there sticks gives the stick a very strong presence, and this presence will help the keeper of the stick when they themselves need strength.

Lunch was apple crumble and the children loved using the apple peeler which peels, cores and slices all at the same time. All the strings of peel were eaten.

For the afternoon we went to the end of the farm and found a beautiful eel at Dysons Bay. We thought is was 'Little One grown up a bit. She was so friendly.
We walked back through the farm, and stopped at the Ghost Trees where there was time to sit and rest as well as some exploring.

Thank you everyone. An incredible day. 💕👏👍

AFTERSCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME MONDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2026Such a wonderful afternoon for the last week of term.This term...
21/09/2026

AFTERSCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME MONDAY WEEK 10 TERM 3 2026

Such a wonderful afternoon for the last week of term.
This term one of the things we have been studying is different flowers, and watching our tulips emerge by the woolshed entrance.

'From an anther on a stamen to a stigma on a style, pollen grains must travel and stay a little while. And then you will see the reason for each flower'
And some flowers are so open that you can see how easy it is for insects to collect pollen and nectar.

This afternoon we also walked to Happy Valley. Here we found the pond had lots of back swimmers so we got a few to put into Franklyns pond.
We also found some slaters and earwigs for the frogs and burrows hiding away.

Back at the woolshed the wood pins were brought out as someone had a small ball in their pocket. These children want to call this game domino ball. We shall see. It is certianly great fun.
The chickens were fed, then it was time for handwashing and home time.

Thank you everyone.

HORSEMANSHIP STUDENT DAY at Teacher in the Paddock Term 3 2026What an awesome day. Here is the next batch of photos. ❤
20/09/2026

HORSEMANSHIP STUDENT DAY at Teacher in the Paddock Term 3 2026

What an awesome day.
Here is the next batch of photos. ❤

HORSEMANSHIP STUDENT DAY at Teacher in the Paddock Term 3 2026WHAT AN AMAZING DAY. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! ❤🐎🐴It was amaz...
20/09/2026

HORSEMANSHIP STUDENT DAY at Teacher in the Paddock Term 3 2026

WHAT AN AMAZING DAY. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! ❤🐎🐴

It was amazing to see all these students coming together, cementing great friendships, and learning from one another.
Everyone was able to show off what they have been learning throughout the term. It was great to see the younger students showing how they can do a dismount while the horse is moving. WOW.
And Nik taught others how to lunge Nacho, and everyone could see the amazing relationship between horse and human.💕

Thank you sooo much Ella, Eden and Heidi. ❤🩷💜
PS. Their is another lot of photos to come. 😆

ROSIE. This week on Wednesday 16th September we said goodbye to our beautiful horse Rosie. 💕🙏In her early years she was ...
19/09/2026

ROSIE.

This week on Wednesday 16th September we said goodbye to our beautiful horse Rosie. 💕🙏
In her early years she was a harness racing horse.
Unable to be ridden after retirement we acquired her from RRR (Rescue Revive and Rehome) so she could spend the rest of her life with us.
She was deeply loved For over 3 years and Rosie gave this same love back to everyone who was around her.💕

From all the horsemanship students, the other horses, Children, Youth, Volunteers and the Adults that were always around her. R.I.P. ROSIE. You will be Forever in our Hearts. 🐎🐴❤️🩷💜

AFTERSCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME THURSDAY WEEK 9 TERM 3 2026Yesterday afternoon a child cut up a cherry tree trunk and th...
17/09/2026

AFTERSCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAMME THURSDAY WEEK 9 TERM 3 2026

Yesterday afternoon a child cut up a cherry tree trunk and these pieces made excellent bowling pins. This afternoon we put numbers 1 to 7 on the top. Kevin provided us with a ball, we drew up a score sheet, and the games began. They were fantastic and all the children were getting so quick with there maths. We then placed the pins in a line to see who could bowl the ball and great them all to fall in a dominos effect. Such fun.

Sticks were worked on, and the chickens were fed grain ands eggs were gathered.
Such a great afternoon. Thank you everyone. 😆👏

Address

316 Waitao Road, Welcome Bay
Tauranga
3175

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+64274058209

Website

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