Environmental Education

The SET Division, previously known as the People and Conservation (P&C) division of the Augrabies Falls National Park, is involved with environmental awareness-raising both inside and outside the park boundaries. It is important to make South Africans, of all ages but especially children, aware of their rich cultural and natural heritage within the National Parks. By experiencing the parks first-hand, learning about them, accessing them and being able to stay overnight, a spark can be ignited which can lead to an understanding of why we need to live sustainably and conserve our natural heritage.

School and other interest groups from all over South Africa visit Augrabies Falls during the year for environmental programmes, with some even coming from Namibia… Visiting schools who have made arrangements with the SET Officer prior to arrival, receive an environmental education programme, which is adapted to their needs, a specific theme and the grades in question. Normally this involves an interactive presentation and a guided walk. During the walk, the natural environment is experienced first-hand and all senses can be utilised in the learning process. As the park is situated in a semi-desert environment, the adaptations of the plants and animals to survive in such harsh conditions provides very interesting learning material. The waterfall and the unique geology of the park are also of great interest.

SET staff are also involved in outreach programmes by visiting local schools as often as possible, usually on special calendar days such as World Water Day, Earth Day, World Environment Day and National Arbor Month. The information and activities prepared for the learners are then related to the focus or theme of that special calendar day. Due to the nature of the arid region, it is very important for children to realize that water is a precious resource that should not ever be wasted. Teaching them how to conserve water and letting them come up with ways in which they can decrease their water use is an important part of environmental education and awareness-raising at Augrabies FallsEnvironmental Education and awareness-raising also means bringing the message of conservation and how to live sustainably to the public and the surrounding… Calendar Day events are done with the adults in communities to raise awareness of how to live more sustainably.

Currently, a tented camp in the park’s rest camp functions as an overnight environmental centre. The BMW Conference Centre (near the reception area) is utilised for presentations and indoor activities. The tented camp is well utilised during the Kids in Parks programme. This programme, which was started in 2005 and is fully funded, is run nationally in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and the Department of Education. Usually, ten National Parks are selected to participate per annum and each park brings in a maximum of 500 learners and 20 educators, in groups of 50 learners with 2 educators. These groups spend three days and two nights in the park, whilst participating in a full environmental education programme, which is curriculum-linked.

Other park programmes include the Kids in Augrabies programme and the Far schools programme. For the Kids in Augrabies programme, each local school is given one morning during the year when the park will transport a group of 23 learners and 1 educator to the park for a specific environmental programme. The Far schools programme is a unique and special overnight programme, which is sponsored by the SANParks Honorary Rangers. Each year two or three ‘far’ schools are selected to participate. ‘Far’ schools are those within a 250km radius of the park that do not have the means of ever visiting the park due to the lack of funding for transport and catering. Transport and catering are arranged for a group of between 16-20 and they spend one night in the park whilst participating in an environmental programme.