Learning about healthy choices

Makauri School students are enjoying the five-week health challenge of the Zespri Young and Health Virtual Adventure. Back, from left, are Bella Carmody Hogan, Tully Wilson, Marlee Wallace, Miné Greeff, Francie Vigis, Ruby Blampied, Thom Ladd and Ross Spence. Front, Lucas Atkins, Rick Trafford, Sarnz Smith and Matty Hawea. Picture by Liam Clayton

Students at Makauri School are among 20,000 from around the country taking part in the Zespri Young and Healthy Virtual Adventure. kicked off last week around the country.

The five-week programme aims to inspire young people to adopt a lifetime of good healthy choices.

“It encourages and educates kids, highlights awareness of healthy choices and best health practices,” said Tanya Nielsen, a teacher at Makauri School. This is the third year she  has been involved in the programme.

“I just love how it’s interactive,” she said.”It takes you all around the world, virtually, and  in each country you learn something about that country.

“It really is making a good impact on the kids because you have to eat healthy food, drink water and take part in mindfulness activities.  You then enter the data and move ahead to the next country, so it has a competitive side to it.  The kids are using the pedometers so it has a maths element to it as well,” Miss Nielsen said.

In preparation for the challenge, she took her students to a nearby kiwifruit orchard, where they sat among the vines while experts shared their knowledge of the goodness of the much-loved fruit.

Makauri students are hoping the two-minute video they’ve submitted as part of the competition for new shoes, will win.

“The children wrote their own song and showed how they move inside the classroom when it’s raining outside,” Miss Neilsen said.

Young and Healthy Charitable Trust and Virtual Adventure founder Kim Harvey said,  “Research shows the first 10 years of a child’s life set the foundations for good health, so we’ve designed the programme in a fun and interactive way to help kids understand and notice for themselves what it feels like when they make healthy choices.”

The adventure is all about motivating children to move more often, drink lots of water, sleep well and take time away from devices to enjoy time with friends, family, pets and the outdoors. The opportunity to win prizes from the sponsors, ASICS, for adds motivation.   Free pedometers are provided with spot prizes and giveaways are a highlight on the five-week journey.

Zespri head of global public affairs Michael Fox says the company is proud to partner with the Young and Healthy Trust.

“Zespri’s purpose is to help people, communities and the environment thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit and the adventure does just that by making a positive difference to so many kids and communities across New Zealand.”

A virtual map allows the children to take on a new country once they have succeeded in gaining points to ‘pass go’.

To join the waiting list for

next year’s 2024 programme, apply through youngandhealthy.org.nz