About us

Creating spaces where kids can

learn, grow, and belong at school.

Growing mighty kids

What is Oke all about?

Oke exists because not every kid thrives inside four walls.

We build outdoor classrooms with schools and their communities, creating spaces where kids can learn by doing, grow confidence, and feel like they belong.

It’s not just about what gets built. It’s about what changes because of it.

Learn more about the Oke Growing A Future initiative.

Every Kiwi kid deserves

an outdoor classroom

Every Kiwi kid deserves an outdoor classroom

Not every child thrives inside four walls and yet, that’s still how most learning happens.

At Oke, we’re changing that, we’re building outdoor classrooms across Aotearoa, spaces where kids can learn by doing, connect with nature, and grow confidence in a way that actually works for them.

Because this isn’t just about gardens, it’s about giving every child the chance to:

feel capable
feel connected
feel like they belong at school

And when that happens, everything shifts for the kids, for the teachers, and for the wider community.

Through our Growing A Future initiative, we work alongside schools and their communities to build a complete outdoor classroom in just one day. It’s not something we drop in, it’s something people show up and build together. Each space includes everything needed to make it work long-term; raised beds, tunnel house, tools, irrigation, fruit trees, and more, so it becomes part of everyday learning, not just a one-off project.

Every build is valued at over $25,000, and we work year-round with our supporters, funders, and partners to keep the cost to schools as low as possible.

Check out our Working Bee Schedule to see the next school receiving Growing A Future and find out more about our awesome partners

key outcomes

What makes us diferent?

Built with community

Every outdoor classroom is created through a working bee, bringing together schools, whānau, and volunteers to build something that belongs to them. That shared effort creates real ownership and helps these spaces last.

Real infrastructure

We don’t run programmes, we help schools build permanent outdoor classrooms that support learning, wellbeing, food growing, and connection. These are spaces designed to be used and valued for years to come.

Used every day

These spaces are used week in, week, as part of everyday school life. Creating consistent opportunities for every child to take part, feel capable, and experience learning in a way that works for them—so no one gets left behind.

Meet the Oke Crew

Paul Dickson

Paul came up with the crazy idea of creating the #H2HWalk back in 2012. After the successes of the fundraiser, he decided to do things a little bit backward and then create the Oke Charity. Paul heads up the Oke Crew…when he’s not on Daddy Daycare duty!

Michelle Turner

Michelle joined the Oke Crew in October 2023 as the Tāmaki Makaurau Chief Go-Getter. Oke initially teamed up with Michelle when she was working at Mountain View School and initiated the outdoor classroom being built. After volunteering for the next couple of years, we finally snapped up Michelle as our Chief Go-Getter, helping to get even more outdoor classrooms funded and built.

Alisi Kivalu

Alisi joined the Oke Crew in April 2021 as the South Auckland Chief Go-Getter. Living and breathing Otara life, Alisi is helping to connect the Oke Charity with the community where it all began. Whilst getting stuck in to help build more school gardens.