Student-led mahi turns bike-trail dream into reality

Every Friday students cleared the debris in the pine forest.

An enviro class of Year 5 and 6 students at Oruaiti School in the Far North is working on the finishing touches of an 18-month mountain-bike trail project, which has seen tamariki lead and manage the entire process from design to build. 

Principal Diane Bates says they received funding after winning the 2021 Prime Minister’s Award for Sustainability and Education(external link) so they asked the students what they would like to do with the money. 

“As it was the students who helped us win the award, we wanted the funding to go back to them, and go back to something for our local school environment,” says Diane.

She says it’s been an empowering learning opportunity that has seen tamariki blossom.

“The students have done all the work, from planning, to contracting and even hauling logs, so it’s neat to see it all come to fruition,” she says.

Curriculum links incorporated throughout 

Planning started at the beginning of 2022 and most of their learning time has been spent working directly or indirectly on the project. 

As part of the project management, students made phone calls to various contractors including construction and fencing companies, and digger operators.

First site meeting with Ryan the track builder.

Enviro class teacher Rob Arrowsmith says the confidence they demonstrated in dealing with stakeholders was impressive. 

“They are incredibly articulate and able to communicate in such a way that everyone who works on the project is impressed because the students are so confident in themselves and their ability,” he says. 

“My job is to guide them, and make sure we stay on track – excuse the pun!”

Diane and Rob say curriculum links are all deliberately integrated throughout the project, and include reading, writing, maths, science, te reo Māori, and art. 

“Some ākonga might struggle with learning in the classroom but when they’re trying to measure square metres and work out how much the contractor is charging per square metre, the learning they are getting in such a real way is amazing,” says Diane. 

In the classroom, lessons are tied back to what they’ve been doing on the bike trail project. Each day’s lesson is prepared based on the success and ‘next steps’ from the previous day. 

“They’re overseeing all aspects of the project, which is accelerating their learning,” says Rob.

“We work together to plan our next steps, and everything we do is pre-agreed by them. It’s all about mastery and ownership.” 

For example, students were asked how they would fit 40 bikes in a 20-foot shipping container. Through measuring out a template, and problem solving, they discovered they could store some on the floor, and hang some vertically on the walls. 

Sam sharing his ideas with Ivan the farmer.

Community effort

The trail, which is set to open to the whole school and community later in the year, has four yet-to-be-named tracks: beginner (pump track); advanced (250 metres); expert (200 metres); and extreme (200m), which range in skill and ability from Grade 1 (easiest) to Grade 4 (extreme). 

Students have secured 10 bikes, which were gifted by Programmed Facility Management (PFM), and received funding for another 23. The Oxford Sports Trust also gave students funding for container storage.

As the wider community is getting behind the project – with local farmer Ivan Turner offering his digger and skills, and Ryan Lovett overseeing the track design – Diane says the school plans to eventually open up the track for the community to use.

“We’ve got the space and the school is in a perfect position, so it’ll be great to give the community access too,” she says.

Weather won’t hinder plans

The bike trail hasn’t been without its challenges, with bad weather earlier this year delaying the start of earthworks.

“We’ve been quite fortunate though, with timelines and contractors’ availability,” says Rob. 

He adds that the challenge now will be keeping up the momentum throughout the winter months, as much of the finishing work will need to be put on hold due to the slippery clay ground. 

While much of the land for the trail has been cleared, students have begun planting mānuka and will continue planting next year. 

Come term 4, the children will be able to use their new track for an entirely new form of learning – technical bike skills. 

“As well as acquiring mountain-bike skills, they’ll also be learning patience and respect for each other and the equipment,” says Rob. 

Students helped put two more culverts in to make the bike track exit and the Grade 1 pump track.

Student voice 

Students of Oruaiti School explain to Education Gazette what made the project memorable for them:

“Because the hard work was worth it.”

“Stepping up a level and having fun.”

“We helped the environment.”

“Testing the bike track was fun and purposeful.”

“We ran the bike park project.” 

“We do it as a class.”

“Everyone helped to make a difference.”

“We challenged ourselves to be successful.”

“When you have been in Rob’s class you realise anything is possible if you work hard enough and persevere when it is tough.”

“The feeling of achievement.”

“Learning outside. Because it is hands-on.”

Check out the school’s Google presentation on the project(external link).

Earthworks being completed to prepare for the bike track.