The Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal New Zealand Navy have joined forces to support teachers and encourage more young women into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics careers.

Forty teachers from throughout the country attended the teachers’ edition of the combined School to Skies and School to Seas Camp, which was held at RNZAF Base Auckland at Whenuapai and Devonport Naval Base last week.

The camp aims to empower teachers to arm their students with confidence and curiosity, and inspire a potential career in STEM.

Breanna Moller from St Joseph’s School, Kaikōura, at the Royal New Zealand Navy Bridge Simulator as part of the School to Skies and School to Seas Teachers’ Edition Camp. Photo supplied.

School to Skies programme lead, squadron leader Matthew Pitts says, the teachers gained hands-on experience in the aviation and maritime industries, and the camp provided them with new educational tools and ideas, as well as introducing them to the inspirational career opportunities available to their students.

“The School to Skies forms part of the RNZAF’s commitment to the New Zealand Defence Force Wāhine Toa programme,” says Matthew.

“The aim is for participants to develop a learning experience which will inspire their students to pursue STEM career pathways and in turn help to increase diversity in RNZAF technical and aviation based roles.”

Teachers get some hands-on welding experience at the School to Skies and School to Seas Teacher’s Edition Camp at Devonport Naval Base. Photo supplied.

At RNZAF Base Auckland, the teachers were introduced to military skills, the principles of flight and aviation mission planning.

They also boarded a C-130H(NZ) Hercules for a flight over Auckland with No. 40 Squadron.

School to Seas Project Lead, lieutenant commander Emily Kutarski says recruiting and supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce that represents all New Zealanders is also critically important for the RNZN.

At RNZAF Base Auckland at Whenuapai, teachers learned about aircraft maintenance as part of the School to Skies and School to Seas Teachers’ Edition Camp. Photo supplied.

“School to Seas certainly helps to show the range of career opportunities the Navy has to offer,” she says.

“The camp aims to introduce what life is like at sea, as well as break down stereotypes and barriers that may prevent women and other under-represented groups from enlisting in the Navy.”

During their time at Devonport Naval Base, the teachers were exposed to a wide range of naval activities, including experiencing what the day-to-day life is like for Navy personnel, as well as firefighting, navigation and leadership skills.

Teachers attending the School to Skies and School to Seas Teachers’ Edition Camp observing the Royal New Zealand Navy Sea Safety Training Squadron at Devonport Naval Base. Photo supplied.

“New Zealand's STEM workforce has less than 30 percent representation of women.

“Female students in New Zealand drop out of studying maths and science at a rate far higher than their male counterparts, and for Māori or Pasifika that rate is even greater.

“With global long-term shortages in the STEM workforce, we need to attract young women in order to sustain and grow our numbers both in the Navy and the wider maritime industry,” says Emily.

The teachers’ edition of the School to Skies and School to Seas camp was hosted at RNZAF Base Auckland from 14-17 January and RNZN Devonport Naval Base from 17-19 January 2024.