ENVIRONMENTAL CAMP FOR UNDER-PRIVILEGED LEARNERS
For many rural schools, sending learners on a school camp is not an option. The Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization decided to change that and found a generous donor in New Zealand called Tanglewood Foundation. Learners from 13 primary schools in the KwaXimba area as well as 3 schools near Richmond will for the first time experience a school camp.
Schools around the Mayibuye Game Reserve development have been included as the game reserve will bring many opportunities to this community and learners need to be aware of future career paths and the need for conservation.
Learners enter an art or essay competition and 25 winners are selected from each of the 13 schools. So far 300 of the 600 learners have been to Nyala Pans Adventure Camp based in the Umkomaas Valley near Richmond. The learners get collected on a Friday afternoon and return on Sunday, they spend the weekend learning about the environment and having loads of fun. The activities at the camp include water study, an obstacle course, environmental art, wildlife walks, camp fire stories and more.
“School camp can be a defining moment for a young person; it is often their first time away from home. It presents an opportunity for personal growth and instils a love for nature. We want these future leaders to become passionate about protecting the environment and what better way than to experience it for themselves, learning and having fun on camp,” says Yvette Taylor, Director of the Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization.
