On Wednesday 12 May, Westcoast Year 7-8s gathered together at school, preparing for our term 2 school trip – based on sustainability.

Our first visit was South Peak Homes. A company that builds houses on site and transports them to the owners’ property.

Along the way, we learnt that when they buy the wood (needed for the framing), they get it cut down to the exact size, so they don’t waste any wood. We got a tour, starting from houses that have just begun, then ending with houses that were fully finished. The highlight of that visit was seeing the building process from start to finish.

Our next visit was to a fern farm. A business that was started in 1998 and is still running. Through-out the years, they have grown ferns from seeds, and waiting years till they are grown and can be sold. We learnt that when they dry ferns, they collect spores, which are on the back of the fern, and looks like dirt, which they sow, and it takes more than two years for them to fully grow. The highlight from fernz.nz was looking at all the machines that automatically fills pots with dirt.

Overall, it was a very interesting trip, and we all learnt something new, that we can apply in our inquiry.

Thanks to all the teachers and helpers for organising this fun day out!

Upper South West Coast students Imogen, Blaize, Ida & Yves.