Children have spent eight weeks investigating the needs of endangered New Zealand whitebait through a programme called Whitebait Connection. They looked at tiny live eggs, watched live whitebait, an eel and freshwater crayfish swimming. They used a diorama to watch rain running through rivers and out to sea. Children found out that the moon causes a king tide and that tells whitebait to swim up the river to lay its eggs in the ‘love zone’.  They discovered some of the predators of whitebait and what people can do to help these little creatures to survive. The programme links in to work being done by local school children who have posted signs to educate people to care for a local stream. Our children will already be experts when they encounter this conservation work at school.