500 learners visit Tsitsikamma in five weeks

[MATTHYS]

Media Release: 500 learners visit Tsitsikamma in five weeks

07 March 2019

We are in the fourth of the five weeks, and People and Conservation Officer (P&C), Nobulumko Gantsho and team in Tsitsikamma are still going strong. Five hundred learners (500) from ten schools are being hosted as part of the Kids in Parks Programme. The Programme is funded by South African National Parks (SANParks) and the National Department of Environmental Affairs.

"We have five weeks with ten schools, which amounts to two and a half days spent with each school. This year's participating schools include Coldstream, Storms River Primary, Paul Sauer (two farm schools), Nooitgedacht, Bo Plaas, Joubertina, Clarksen/Amamfengu, Kareedouw Primary, Woodlands, Tsitsikamma Laer, Johannes Primere and Lily’s Bush", says Gantsho.’

The Programme is interactive with a chunk of practical work out in the field. Gantsho says that "this year, we roped in the Natures Valley’s Trust to focus on the rocky shores as part of the Programme and SANParks scientists on fynbos."

Learners get to interact with nature, experts, rangers and volunteers. Learners are accommodated in the De Vasselot camp in Natures Valley during the duration of the Programme and get to experience staying in a National Park.

The Garden Route National Park tries to engage with as many schools as possible and has ‘eco-schools’, campaign days celebrations with various schools and invites and facilitates a lot of schools programmes.

Gantsho quickly points out that "the Kids in Parks Programme is unique because it’s curriculum-based, opening up the outdoor classroom in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park. Through practical demonstrations, the learners are able to see for themselves what is written in textbooks".

Issued by:
SANParks, Frontier Region Communications

Media enquiries:
Nandi Mgwadlamba
Regional Communications Manager, SANParks
Tel: 078 702 9663
Email: [email protected]