In May, 22 students from Halfmoon Bay, Tapora, Kaitoke & Makuri Schools met in Wellington for the Rural & Remote Schools camp.

Here are our rural kids speaking to Breakfast TV 10 years ago on their first camp:

The kaupapa of how our schools work together hasn't changed in this time. The Rural & Remote Schools Project, which includes the biennial Wellington camp, is all about connecting our ākonga  to help reduce their social isolation, and prepare them for transition to high school. For many of our children this means moving away from their small communities where they have lived all their life. Visiting Wellington together supports them to make new friends, share new experiences (some outside their comfort zones), look after themselves and find their way around, and exposes them to future careers and pathways. Also its lots of fun!

Some of the highlights from this year were:

• Weta Workshop
• Porirua - high ropes, Police College, go karts
• The National Museum - He Tohu exhibition 
• Parliament & meeting all our MPs
• Visiting parliament gallery for night debates
• Defence Force Careers
• Te Papa
• Capital E on TV
• Buses, trains & planes
• Eating out every night

See Connell, Liam & Utu's camp presentation in the attachment below 

Thanks to the New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust and Te Puna Foundation for supporting our whānau with assistance with travel funds. Also to Hon. Jan Tinetti for spending time with us at He Tohu, Hon. Trevor Mallard for hosting us in the Speakers office and all our MPs for taking time to come and talk with us. Big thanks as always to the Wellington Bus drivers who helped us get around the city

Listen to Kath & Rachel talk about Rural kids Wellington camp on RNZ Country Report