Community organisations win contracts to provide learning experiences outside the classroom

The Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom (LEOTC) initiative complements the local curriculum.
It supports around 500,000 students each year to participate in learning activities at zoos, museums, historic parks, art galleries, outdoor education facilities, performing arts, and virtual learning experiences.

This initiative provides opportunities for schools to work with the community to provide unique and interactive educational opportunities and for students to develop critical thinking skills and learn key competencies such as collaboration, communication, problem solving, and ethical and safety awareness.

The 26 community organisations are contracted to provide experiences covering maths, science and technology for a 3 year period. These are in addition to another 46 ongoing contracts covering arts, health and physical education awarded in 2015 and social sciences and languages awarded in 2016. 

Providers of LEOTC for science, maths and technology:

National

• CORE Education – LEARNS Multiple Partner Virtual Field Trips
• National Science Roadshow

Auckland

• Stardome – Auckland Observatory & Planetarium
• Auckland Zoo

Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Taupo

• Tauranga City Council – Learning Through Discovery

Canterbury

• Christchurch City Council
• Department of Conservation, Aoraki District Office
• EOS Ecology
• Ferrymead Heritage Park
• Orana Wildlife Park
• Science Alive Centre

Hawke’s Bay/Gisborne

• National Aquarium of New Zealand
• Nga Mahi Te Taiao

Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast

• University of Otago – NZ Marine Studies Centre – Nelson Region

Otago Southland

• University of Otago – NZ Marine Studies Centre – Dunedin
• Orokonui Ecosanctuary
• Royal Albatross Centre

Tāi Tokerau

• Whangarei Museum & Kiwi House

Taranaki, Manawatu and Whanganui

• National Army Museum Te Mata Toa
• Waitomo Caves Discovery Centre
• Rotokare Scenic Reserve (Taranaki region only)
• Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science and History (Manawatu and Whanganui regions only)

Wellington

• Space Place at Carter Observatory
• Island Bay Marine Education Centre
• Wellington Gardens – Wellington City Council
• Wellington Zoo

Find out more about Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom(external link).