DICT Environmental Education Programme Camp
October 11, 2016Pinkey Ngewu
The Dyer Island Conservation Trust has always been involved with local school groups and earlier this year we launched project “DEEP” (DICT Environmental Education Programme). DEEP envisions that environment education should reach all children before the age of 12 years in order to ensure that the ethos of conservation and respect for nature will become second nature for them. The programme runs for 3 years so as to monitor and evaluate the impact and growth of each and every individual learner. The aim is to expose these young learners to the field of science and conservation and to help them realize that if they continue their education, they can do anything they put their minds to!
The first ever DEEP camp took place over the weekend of the 7th-9th October with our group of 13 learners from Masakhane Primary School. Pinkey Ngewu from the Dyer Island Conservation Trust did a recap of the programme and facilitated a variety of marine lessons. The DEEP group also visited Potberg at De Hoop Collection Nature Reserve to learn about the important ecosystems in our area, namely fynbos and marine ecosystems. The second day’s lesson took place at De Hoop Vlei where the group went on a guided walk along the De Hoop vlei which is a Ramsar site and Koppie Alleen where they did some whale watching. Pinkey also focused on rock pool education and shared information on the animals they looked at, their habits and what makes them special and the kids had some fun making sand animals with Georgina. The last activity of the day was facilitated by Rebecca. A game of Marine Animals Charades!
The camp was the highlight for the kids. A special thanks to sponsor Mike Gibbs for making it a possibility for these kids to have an opportunity to experience life and also a special thanks to the Great White House for preparing a meal for our first night. We would also like to thank CapeNature for the sponsored accommodation. Rebecca Dames from Grootbos Foundation and Georgina Pendell, a visiting marine biologist assisting the Dyer island Conservation Trust, who also joined in all the fun and we thank them for their enthusiastic involvement, assisting with the lessons and games.
