School Camps

A unique educational experience in nature's classroom

There is no better place for students to have a unique educational experience and learn about the great outdoors with a wide range of memory making activities. Mistletoe Bay Eco Village is immersed in natural surrounds with the beach and bush on your door step, offering something to suit every school programme and budget. We want everyone to enjoy there Mistletoe Bay Eco Village experience.

Eco-friendly setting with open spaces and freshwater stream
Sheltered/safe bay with beach and rocky seashore
Cabins/whare or tent camping options
Kayaking, sailing and swimming
Mature, old-growth native forest
Short walks/loop tracks
Longer hikes (1-4hr) Lochmara, Anakiwa, Torea (water-taxi returns available)
Pontoon wharf (suitable for commercial vessels and private boats)
Mooring available
Rogaining/orienteering

Accommodation

Schools have the option of two different types of accommodation, our cabins/whares or camping.  Bring along your own sleeping bags, pillow cases and towels.

Cabins/Whare Accommodation

Sleeps up to 6 students/adults 

Our eight waterfront cabins/whares are each named for a local bird, insect, plant or fish and have their own ensuite, lounge and dining area. The bedroom has two double beds and two single beds in bunk form to accommodate up to six people. There is one paraplegic whare available.

Our whare's all have solar powered water heating and heat pumps for heating or cooling the rooms to ensure your comfort all year round. Schools choosing this option have access to our commercial kitchen with the facilities to cater up to sixty students and our new class room fitted with multimedia equipment and a log burner and heat pump to provide comfort all year round.

Camping Accommodation

Our unpowered camp sites are located within close proximity to the ablution block with its clean toilets and hot showers.  Schools choosing this option have access to the camp kitchen which is equipped with microwaves, sinks, refrigeration, toasters and a BBQ. The camp kitchen is a large space with dining tables and a log burner making it ideal for group gatherings in any weather. Schools who camp, are required to supply your own tea towels, crockery, pots, pans and cutlery. You are also welcome to utilise our BBQ area. Our laundry is equipped with washing machines at a cost of $10 per load (may be limited in summer if water is in short supply) and a drying room.

Check in time 2pm and check out time 10am

If you would like to discuss arrival and departure outside of these times please contact our Mistletoe Bay Eco Village managers.

School Activities

Sailing

Sailing is available to all school groups. Schools must provide your own Sailing Instructor.  Contact Richard de Hamel if you do not have an instructor

6 Optimist yachts - hire all 6 for $250.00 per day

Kayaking & Stand Up Paddle Boards

Please note these bookings are for the day not for the stay

Kayaks - hire all 10 for $150 per day.
4 Stand Up Paddle Boards - hire all 4 for $100 per day

Rogaining (Orienteering)

We have a permanent course set up and a full kit set up for schools - $30 per day

Education Programmes Provided by Richard de Hamel (Marine Maestro) based at Mistletoe Bay

A little about Richard de Hamel:

Richard has a Masters Science degree in Zoology. He is well known for the 20 years spent as a specialist marine educator for the University of Otago in the Nelson and Marlborough regions. He has also worked for Museums, Aquariums, the NZ Wildlife Service, and the Department of Conservation.

He has become widely recognised for his work on Maori Fishing Technology. After years based in the field and on boats, he is passionate about providing students with real-life, authentic learning experiences. A streak of artistic creativity coupled with a practical bent, allows him to approach education with a sense of fun. In 2021, Stuff published a National Portrait on Richard and his work ( https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/124301731/national-portrait-richard-de-hamel--the-unlikely-buccaneer-bringing-the-marine-world-to-the-classroom ). More recently, he formed his own company Marine Maestro Ltd and has been advising schools and presenting at conferences all over NZ. www.marinemaestro.nz

Richard has a wide range of knowledge covering both sea and land birds, mammals, fish, forest ecology, navigation, boating and sailing. Importantly, he has an easy sense of humour and an ability to engage students of all ages.

"I think Mistletoe Bay is one of the nicest places in New Zealand! It has that wonderful Marlborough Sounds mix of water, bush, birdsong, walking tracks, streams, fish, wildlife and semi-isolation and all with a lovely Marlborough climate. It is not surprising that I have been coming back here for 30+ years!" - Richard de Hamel

Connecting with the Natural World at Mistletoe Bay

Experiential, hands-on! All these programmes have 'hands-on' learning elements. No writing is required although some instructional reading may be useful. No prior knowledge is required, but for some younger groups, a bit of pre-trip understanding could be an advantage depending on the programme.

Adaptable! All the sessions outlined can be combined or merged if needed, to better fit into school values, current topics or areas of learning.

Tuned to the location! The programmes attached as PDF's have been tuned to fit with what Mistletoe Bay has to offer. Content and availability of programmes may change, please confirm details prior to booking. Most programmes have some walking required, wheelchair access is a bit challenging in some areas.

Programmes Length: All programmes last 1.5 - 2 hours, but can be adjusted to fit in with other activities, or can be run as an evening, 'after dinner' session.

Costs: Programmes are charged at $150 per session, for up to 60 students.

There is a $200 transport levy to get Richard de Hamel to Mistletoe Bay and home again (this is a one-off charge, irrespective of how many sessions are delivered). All prices are GST exclusive.

Please download the programmes attached at the top as PDF's to download.

Contact: Richard de Hamel Email: richard@marinemaestro.nz Mobile: 0211318334

Click HERE to view all our other activities

We look forward to hosting your next school camp. To discuss or find out more please contact us.