We are dedicated to making a difference to childrens’ lives and their planet! All children are created differently and we celebrate and nourish this.
Talking Tree Hill is the engine room for research and development of creativity, nature education and innovation for children’s mind and body health. Papatuanuku is our first teacher, so we must respect and connect to her before we need to protect her. We foster the authenticity and curiosity of all children through outdoor and ‘real green learning’ experiences.
Together we help children identify, embrace and value their true-self and develop their authentic voice.
Through experiences of curiosity, creativity and connection, children develop strength and pride in their unique cultural story, spiritual identity and emotional language
Together we help children develop, empower and practice critical thinking, problem solving and behaviour awareness.
Through opportunities for inquiry and mindfulness, children learn to connect with and explore their thoughts, feelings and actions.
Together we help children learn to nourish their body, community and planet
Through the practice of real green essential skills, healthy consumerism and conscious eating, children learn to sustain a healthy planet and give back to their community.
Together we help children identify, embrace and value their true-self and develop their authentic voice.
Through experiences of curiosity, creativity and connection, children develop strength and price in their unique cultural story, spiritual identity and emotional language
Together we help children identify, embrace and value their true-self and develop their authentic voice.
Through experiences of curiosity, creativity and connection, children develop strength and price in their unique cultural story, spiritual identity and emotional language
Together we help children identify, embrace and value their true-self and develop their authentic voice.
Through experiences of curiosity, creativity and connection, children develop strength and price in their unique cultural story, spiritual identity and emotional language
Julie is a musician, registered teacher and mother of two boys. She has taught the piano and flute for over 20yrs, run a music school with her husband Gareth, started and sold Kelly Club on Waiheke and is now focusing on bringing her music and special needs skills to the children of Talking Tree Hill. Her passion is in letting children "move to learn."
Raised on the family farm in Sth Canterbury her love for nature, wellbeing, adventure and a lifelong commitment to bettering education began.She has been educating children and adults for 20+ years in Europe, Asia, and Australaisia and spent her time researching, reflecting and observing what makes children’s hearts and minds sing. In response to this she has founded Talking Tree Hill: an outdoor creative educational facility based on beautiful Waiheke Island AND nature2classroom a creative nature education programme delivered online for schools and homeschoolers in Aotearoa. Her vision is for equal access to creative nature education for all children.
Jess has worked in a number of creative roles and can turn her hand to most crafts but what motivates her above all is fostering creativity in others, which she finds through teaching.
Jess’ drama teaching focuses on the benefits of the ‘process’ of creativity. Her classes aim to be a fun safe place to nurture creativity and develop self confidence in one's own ideas and imagination. Through the use of drama games she encourages the students to strengthen communication skills, practice turn taking and increase empathy by showing the children how to stand back and observe our human emotions, behaviour and characteristics. Jess’ classes are filled with laughter, energy and quiet moments of concentration, she loves to draw on the creativity of the students, however whacky their ideas may be!
Jess is skilled with the sewing machine and is lucky enough to have her own pottery kiln, enabling her an outlet for her love of sculpture. Jess has a passion for science and when she isn’t creating something you will find her reading up on her interests, listening to a podcast and spending time with her family.
Lynsey has run her millinery business for 28 years and is also involved in Event Management
Lynsey grew up in a NZ forestry villages with a tribe of children playing in the bush and making their own fun. She was also surrounded by a family of avid crafters and DIYers.Crafting and the makers space are her great strengths and loves to share her knowledge with the children.Lynsey encourages outdoor play and games whilst fostering respect for nature and the environment. She is all for getting dirty, muddy, rained on and taking calculated risks. Garden to table growing is another of her passions and is working on her food forest at home.
Jaimie is a cognitive neuroscientist specialising in cognition, vision, attention, and leading clinical trials; with a passion for using cutting-edge research to apply to patients and clients in the form of novel therapies or clinical tools. She is an island-based mother of a teen and a tween, and has developed a clinical imagery questionnaire, a visual therapy for the cortically blind and is currently designing clinical trials for RGM and the Talking Tree Hill innovators.
The Talking Tree Hill Charitable Trust is a registered charity with the NZ Charities Commission (ref CC58427). The trust was set up to support the long term plans for Talking Tree Hill, a nature-based education facility on Waiheke Island, New Zealand.
TALKING TREE HILL VISION
Healthy Children. Healthy Planet.
An educational community to advance the holistic wellbeing of our children and their planet - locally, nationally and globally.
TALKING TREE HILL PURPOSE
To sow and nurture the seeds of nature-based creative change throughout the education community.
TALKING TREE HILL MISSION
Cultivating and connecting identity, awareness and authentic action in an outdoor mindful educational environment.
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