The Dolphins curriculum is, as much as possible, marine based with a range of life skills, personal development and leadership options included. On an average Wednesday evening a Dolphin can expect to spend ten minutes doing military style drill at our colours and sunset ceremonies, 30 minutes learning a new skill and 60 minutes (longer during the summer months) playing games or involved in teamwork challenges. Our curriculum is based on the skills of seamanship, navigation, communications, emergency & safety, naval ceremonial, rope skills and boatwork. Water safety, safe boating practices and sea survival are key elements of this training.
Approximately once per term we visit a community organization, emergency service etc, or have them call on us.
Some Wednesday evenings are also spent off site completing courses which are free to Dolphins such as kayaking and snorkeling courses.
During Summer months we can frequently be seen out on the water kayaking, rafting, swimming, snorkeling and, on occasional Saturdays, rowing and sailing with the sea cadets.
A combined annual camp with the Amokura Dolphins is held each year during the long Christmas break and some holiday activities are organized during the shorter breaks. There are also combined activities with the Sea Cadets occasionally.
In the last few seasons Tamatoa Dolphins have:
o Gone fishing
o Competed in raft races on the Hutt River and at Petone Beach
o Marched in the ANZAC day parades
o Learned basic sea survival skills and practiced getting in and out of an inflatable life raft.
o Completed several annual camps at Brookfield
o Frequently been swimming, kayaking and snorkeling at Petone Beach
o Played in the sand
o Learned about fish, lighthouses, shipwrecks, Wellington Harbour and the coastline.
o Studied New Zealand’s maritime history and heritage.
o Visited Mana Coastguard, the Wellington Harbour Police, Petone Fire station and the Bait House.
o Been visited by Wellington Free Ambulance and a number of seafarer including ship captains and a retired Admiral.
o Learned a wide range of knots and rope skills
o Played many team and group games
o Studied water safety, boating safety and fire safety.
o Travelled to Picton and enjoyed comprehensive ship tours of the Aratere en route.
o Learned Semaphore signaling and the use of radio telephones
o Became competent at basic military style drill.
o Learned about the New Zealand ensign and its history, and discovered over 50 other national flags.
o Learned basic compass and navigation skills
o Learned to read a maritime chart
o Studied the 24 hour clock, phonetic alphabet and the nautical watch keeping system