Worms, scraps & garden magic – kids composting workshop

Got kids who love getting their hands dirty? This one's for them!

Join us for a fun, hands-on composting workshop where children can explore what happens to food scraps and discover how nature turns them into healthy soil for plants to grow.

Composting educator Tessa Papadopoulos from Roots Regeneration will guide children (and their grown-ups) through the fascinating world of worms, soil life, decomposition and composting through a range of interactive activities and demonstrations.

Children will have the opportunity to meet wriggly composting worms, learn what happens to food scraps after we throw them away, and discover simple ways they can help reduce waste at home.

What kids will learn

What happens to food scraps after we throw them away

What goes where (compost, food scraps bin and rubbish)

How worms help turn scraps into healthy soil

The difference between "greens" and "browns"

How compost helps plants grow

Easy ways to reduce waste at home

How nature recycles nutrients through decomposition

Take home activity

As part of the workshop, each child will create their own mini compost ecosystem to take home. Using a recycled bottle, they'll build a simple compost system and observe decomposition and natural cycles over the following weeks.

Suitable for children aged 5–12.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Please book a ticket for each child attending.

Come along, have some fun, meet some worms, and discover the magic happening beneath our feet!

Please wear clothes that can get a little grubby, and bring a drink bottle.

Please also bring a small handful of fruit and vegetable food scraps from home (such as banana peels, apple cores, carrot peelings or lettuce leaves) to add to your Mini Compost Ecosystem. This helps connect what we learn in the workshop to the food scraps your family creates at home.

All other workshop materials will be provided.

Please don't bring: meat, dairy, oily foods or pet waste.

This event is brought to you by Tauranga City Council and is funded through the Waste Levy, which is provided to councils by the Ministry for the Environment for waste minimisation education.