October 10, 2018

The Dyer Island Conservation Trust Environmental Education Programme, known as DEEP, works with dedicated learners from Masakhane Primary school. The programme started in 2016 and runs for three years, with a new intake of 12 students each year. The long-term approach enables effective monitoring and evaluation of their progress and the impact that environmental education can have on young kids.

At the end of each year, learners go on an educational camp. This year learners from the second and third year attended an educational camp at Wortelgat in Stanford, where they spent the weekend learning about respect, teamwork and trust. The weekend included a fun-filled day of activities on Saturday – Viking games, nature walks, environmental quizzes, a trust walk, volleyball, stumbling blocks, spider webs and water activities. The learners had water activities on the Stanford river where a fun Mr & Mrs Wortelgat was selected.

Educator Pineky Ngewu said of the camp, “My three-year journey with the DEEP Blue ambassadors has taught me that we should focus on the personal development of our younger generation. These young people are our future leaders, decision makers and legislators, and they can have a profound impact on their community. Watching them grow in self-confidence and improved language skills is very rewarding. This camp was a lifetime experience for them.”

We would like to thank our sponsors of the camp – Mike Gibbs,