While the balloon was airborne for only a few minutes because of unexpected winds, pupils’ aspirations were still flying high.
About 80 pupils from Trinity College, St Joseph’s School and Otago Girls’ High School gathered for a hot-air balloon ride yesterday morning as part of a project to promote science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (Steam) subjects in schools.
Flying High project founder Andrew Parker said it was a privilege to share his passion for ballooning with the pupils.
The 10-lesson education project taught pupils how to improve themselves in their communities in innovative and sustainable ways.
One aptly titled lesson, "bringing the balloon in", taught them valuable life lessons about how to cope when things did not go to plan.
The bird’s eye view from the balloon let pupils look at things in a different way, he said.
His balloon had travelled to 87 different countries around the world and had just arrived from Bluff after travelling the whole of New Zealand over the last 10 days.
He funded 90% of the project himself.
"It’s my way of giving back to the community and I think it’s an important message that we’re sharing as well."
Trinity College teacher Kerron Thomson, along with many of her pupils, had never seen a hot-air balloon before.
"I’m a science teacher and I still learnt something today.
"This is not something you do everyday and I think the children are pretty lucky to be involved with it."
