ELEANOR RARITY
Last updated 12:54, July 18 2018
Timaru's youngest citizens have a new adventure.
The initiative, begun by the WuHoo team Roselyn and Chris Fauth, provides children with seven challenges they can complete throughout different areas of the town's Botanic Gardens.
"It can be purely a self guide, or [children] can complete one or all seven of the challenges," Roselyn Fauth said.
WuHoo Timaru is a voluntary organisation that aims to find and showcase fun things to do in the town. Previous events include Timaru Rocks, which Fauth described as "really, really popular", along with regular scavenger and sculpture hunts.
Doing something with the gardens was a natural choice, as it provided lots of ideas for activities, and was something that the Fauths' three year old daughter would also enjoy.
"[It's] something that's family friendly, gets people outside, doesn't cost anything, and can be done anytime."
ABOVE: MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/STUFF. WuHoo Timaru and the Botanic Gardens have teamed up to create an activity map for children and families to explore. Pictured are Medinella Fauth, 3, with her parents and WuHoo Timaru founders Roselyn and Chris Fauth.
The map has activities on both sides, with the first side including I Spy and a give a tree a hug challenge, which Fauth thought would be "quite good for the two year olds, pre-schooler age".
On the flip side, children could do a seed search, which involved understanding how plants reproduce, and bush bingo. There is also a code breaker, which reveals the name of the monkey that used to live at the gardens, Fauth said.
This challenge, Fauth said is "quite advanced, so an adult will need to help."
Much to Fauth's surprise, the map has already proved quite popular, with the first 60 at the gardens' fernery gone by Sunday. The Aigantighe Art Gallery, who were also provided some, had only three copies left on Tuesday.
Timaru District Council (TDC) parks and recreation manager Bill Steans said that the idea, and response, was great.
"Our botanic gardens were recently named as one of New Zealand's gardens of national significance, and ideas such as this that bring a new generation to learn about what we have on display has to be congratuated."
Maps are also available the Timaru Information Centre, Timaru District Library, and South Canterbury Museum.
- Stuff