Sustainability Challenge Adventure Race Long Bay Regional Park

Five hundred and twenty students. Seventeen schools. One hundred and thirty teams. Sixty helpers. Twenty activities. One great adventure!

That was the Schools Sustainability Challenge held on a fine Friday at Long Bay Regional Park. Organised by Sustainable Schools advisor Sarah Sheeran with help from a number of internal and external partners, the race – for years 5-8 – is now in its 15th year, and it just keeps on growing. The November challenge was the biggest yet, and several teams were turned away once the 130 cap was reached.

Says Sarah: “The kids get a map with checkpoints, a list of activities to complete in two hours and an app to record times and findings. And then they run off in all directions. It’s organised chaos with a festival atmosphere!”

“The combination of action, activity and rewards is a great way to learn,” says Sarah. “Students learn how parks and the natural environment are managed and protected – especially when it comes to pests – and how they can help.  “We had 19 helpers from the Education & Climate Change group, and others from both internal and external partners including Auckland Zoo, AT and Auckland Emergency Management . Partners get to run an activity connected to their work as long as it’s interactive, can be done in under five minutes, has one clear message or call to action, and is fun! “It was a wonderful day – if exhausting,” said Sarah.