Making Meaningful Connection in Week Two of the School Holidays

Youth work is all about building strong relationships and meaningful connections. The school holidays provided the perfect opportunity to do just that!

We held three connection sessions with our mokopuna across Ōtautahi and Tāmaki Makaurau.

With one mission: conquer Chipmunks, eat all the ice cream, and leave no slide un-slid — it was the ultimate school holiday adventure!

We kicked things off in Ōtautahi with a fun-filled adventure to Chipmunks. Five mokopuna, aged 5–7, joined two amazing youth workers for an afternoon of joy!

The group included two sibling sets, and from the moment they arrived, it was clear they were in soft play heaven. They spent the afternoon zooming down slides, navigating obstacle courses, creating their own delicious ice cream sundaes, and dancing across the giant stand-on piano.

It was a time full of laughter, connection, and pure joy — a special space designed just for them.

After Ōtautahi’s successful afternoon, it was time to head up North

Zoo Day Fun: 5 mokopuna and 5 youth workers explore together!

Given the size of Tāmaki Makaurau, we split our mokopuna into regional groups to keep things local and connected. The North/West crew were in for a treat with an epic day out at Auckland Zoo!

The adventure began before we even entered the gates — the zoo was buzzing with visitors, and finding a car park became our first mission of the day!

Each mokopuna received a map to guide our journey, and it was awesome to see the 11-year-old step up and take a leadership role, proudly navigating the group through the different enclosures. Along the way, we greeted a wide range of animals including giraffes, zebras, meerkats, rhinos, lions, orangutans, red pandas, otters, kiwi, ostriches, flamingos, and even skinks. The excitement on their faces as they spotted each animal was priceless!

The highlight of the day was the Dinosaur Discovery Exhibition. The mokopuna were captivated by the life-sized dinosaurs, fully immersed in the experience as they explored the exhibit, solved puzzles, and had a blast in the photo booth.

Even when the rain arrived, it didn’t dampen our spirits. We ducked under shelter when needed, but the thrill of seeing dinosaurs kept everyone buzzing. When we asked if they wanted to head home early, we got an overwhelming “no!” — they weren’t ready for the day to end.

After hours of exploring, braving the ever-changing weather, and sharing lunch with some very persistent seagulls, our tired legs finally told us it was time to head home. It had been an incredible day, full of adventure, laughter, and connection.

This trip wasn’t just about seeing animals — it was about whanaungatanga. It was about being together, building trust, and creating memories in a space where our mokopuna felt seen, supported, and celebrated. One mokopuna summed it up perfectly, turning to the youth workers and saying,

this was the best day ever!

Moments like that remind us why we do what we do.

Last — but not least — it was time for the South/East crew to connect and make their great escape from the Western jail!

With fewer mokopuna in these regions and many already involved in other school holiday plans, this session was quieter — but no less meaningful or full of connection. Two mokopuna siblings and four youth workers met up at Escape Masters in Manukau for an unforgettable challenge.

Our escape room was a Western jail, and it was amazing! The mission began with us locked in two separate jail cells. From there, we worked together to solve puzzles, collaborate as a team to break free, find the hidden gold, and prove our innocence.

Putting on cowboy hats to solve a puzzle caused a bit of chaos when we realised we had to remember where each hat belonged. Watching the brothers work together while wearing the Western props was priceless.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we got caught with just two clues left to solve. We didn’t prove our innocence this time — so it was back to the cells for us!

It was a wonderful afternoon spent with the brothers, who were fully engaged and so much fun!

What an awesome second week of the school holidays, filled with meaningful connections. As you’ve read, many sibling groups came together over the holidays, which was incredible. With several youth workers new to Key Assets, it was a special opportunity for us all to bond as a team and connect deeply with our mokopuna.

All three events were a great success, and we look forward to fostering even more connections in the near future.