Bush school to make youngsters forget about cellphones

This year, pupils from three Ekurhuleni primary schools spent time in nature’s best classroom, under wide open skies and in the fresh air. And this was thanks to the South African National Parks’ (SANParks’) Kudu Green Schools Initiative.

Surrounded by the Maluti Mountains in the Golden Gate Highlands, 35 pupils and six teachers from Monde, Reahile and Dawn Park primary schools learnt about wetlands and geology, and explored the park under the watchful eyes of SANParks People and Conservation officers.

Kudu Green Schools was launched in 2010 and focuses only on Gauteng urban schools at the moment. Since then, more than 1 500 children and 154 teachers have visited five parks – Suikerbosrand, Golden Gate, Pilanesberg, Marakele and Roodeplaat.

The idea of visiting national parks, however, has been around for decades in one guise or another and by the time Green Schools was launched, some 21 633 pupils and 1 175 teachers had already attended national parks under educational schemes.

Head conservation officer at Golden Gate Highlands Nelly Mofokeng said it was always gratifying when a child saw the world around them.

“Sometimes it is difficult competing against cellphones but when we move out of the classroom and into nature, the children forget about their phones.

“The children visit different parks to gain an understanding of how each area has its own ecosystem, and what animals live there and why.”

The rebound benefit is there as conservation officers gain more experience in teaching youngsters with each round of fresh pupils. And when there’s 30-odd primary school children without Wi-Fi, large dollops of patience and a gentle yet firm hand is needed. Still, give an inquiring mind something to do and it soon settles down.

Children focused intently at a rehabilitated wetland, listening carefully to conservation officer Andile Dlamini, stared with fascination at picked-clean bones at the vulture hide and joyously shouted “Eeeeeuwww!” every time a wandering horse pooped while passing by.

The boys played it cool while abseiling down a rock and the girls gave their obligatory faux shouts of fear.

Officially, the goal is “to heighten the level of awareness and interest in conservation among urban pupils and encourage them to pursue conservation and climate-related careers while assisting them to respond to environmental challenges that affect their schools, communities and adaptability to climate change”.

Unofficially, it will be long remembered as the Best Week Evah! at primary school. – amandaw@citizen.co.za