Nature Education at Camp
Camp
programs are among the very best ways for children to obtain an
important appreciation for nature and a lifelong interest in caring
for the earth.
An example of such camp programs can be found at Sugar Bay Holiday Camp, which is passionate about nature education, and where environmental preservation is a priority.
The camp integrates nature education into a variety of programs, some of which include:
Interactive Shark Presentation
On the itinerary of many school tours, is the much anticipated “Shark Talk” delivered by one of the camp directors, Zoe Ellender. Ellender is very passionate about these marine species, which is evident in this gripping presentation.
The purpose of this interactive workshop about sharks is to teach children that sharks really aren’t the “monsters” that they are perceived to be. Rather, Ellender wants children to learn that sharks are indeed beautiful creatures which are threatened by extinction. A claim which she supports with statistics, and anecdotes about her personal experiences in free diving with sharks.
The lesson begins with an engaging game. Ellender reads out various causes of death, and asks the children to guess how many people they think die from these causes each year. Some examples include car accidents, dog bites, falling off a horse and shark attacks etc. With each guess, she places the estimated figure given by the children on a number line for the children to see, and she then reveals the accurate (and often surprising) statistic.
To the children's astonishment, it is revealed that only one person dies from a shark attack each year, compared to the one hundred million sharks which are killed by humans every year.
While coming to terms with this horrifying statistic, Ellender explains with the aid of short, informative videos how and why sharks are killed. She also offers the learners reasons why sharks shouldn't be killed, and what the children can do to make a difference.
Environmental Conservation, Litter and Recycling Program
The Environmental Conservation Program at Sugar Bay begins by taking campers on what is called an “Explore Walk”. During this activity, campers explore the beach, and are encouraged to enjoy the different elements of the coastal environment. While walking, campers are taught lessons on various topics such as the indigenous shores, marine life and adaptations, waves and currents and ocean conservation.
This walk is also used as an opportunity to run the Litter and Recycling Program, in which every camper is given a bag to fill with the litter they come across during their walk along the beach.
Rewards in the form of camp privileges are given to campers for every one hundred pieces of litter picked up. This program aims to provide an eye-opening first hand experience into the extent of pollution on our shores, and to get kids to take the responsibility in participating in the clean up - a first step towards effective environmental conservation.
Farming and Environmental Education Tours
As part of their Farming and Environmental Education tours, Sugar Bay invites expert guest speakers to address the campers in the form of a mini-conference.
One of the most popular guest speakers is Kingsley Holgate, a South African explorer, humanitarian and author who resides in the local area. Kingsley is never shy to share his adventure travel experiences with the kids, and he educates them on how to use adventure to improve and save lives. He teaches the kids about the significance of wildlife conservation, malaria prevention, water purification and overall, how to make a positive difference in peoples’ lives.
Besides camp being a great escape from technology, an adventure in the wilderness and s'mores at the campfire; camp is also one of the best ways to educate future generations about the environment while having fun. This just proves that there certainly is no limit to learning at camp.
To book a camp that includes nature education, please contact the Sugar Bay offices on (032) 485 3778. For more information, visit Sugar Bay's website.
Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, be inspired by our Pinterest picture collections, Review us on our GooglePlus page, be apart of our experiences by becoming a subscriber to our YouTube Channel and keep commenting on all our blogs!
An example of such camp programs can be found at Sugar Bay Holiday Camp, which is passionate about nature education, and where environmental preservation is a priority.
The camp integrates nature education into a variety of programs, some of which include:
Interactive Shark Presentation
On the itinerary of many school tours, is the much anticipated “Shark Talk” delivered by one of the camp directors, Zoe Ellender. Ellender is very passionate about these marine species, which is evident in this gripping presentation.
The purpose of this interactive workshop about sharks is to teach children that sharks really aren’t the “monsters” that they are perceived to be. Rather, Ellender wants children to learn that sharks are indeed beautiful creatures which are threatened by extinction. A claim which she supports with statistics, and anecdotes about her personal experiences in free diving with sharks.
The lesson begins with an engaging game. Ellender reads out various causes of death, and asks the children to guess how many people they think die from these causes each year. Some examples include car accidents, dog bites, falling off a horse and shark attacks etc. With each guess, she places the estimated figure given by the children on a number line for the children to see, and she then reveals the accurate (and often surprising) statistic.
To the children's astonishment, it is revealed that only one person dies from a shark attack each year, compared to the one hundred million sharks which are killed by humans every year.
While coming to terms with this horrifying statistic, Ellender explains with the aid of short, informative videos how and why sharks are killed. She also offers the learners reasons why sharks shouldn't be killed, and what the children can do to make a difference.
Environmental Conservation, Litter and Recycling Program
The Environmental Conservation Program at Sugar Bay begins by taking campers on what is called an “Explore Walk”. During this activity, campers explore the beach, and are encouraged to enjoy the different elements of the coastal environment. While walking, campers are taught lessons on various topics such as the indigenous shores, marine life and adaptations, waves and currents and ocean conservation.
This walk is also used as an opportunity to run the Litter and Recycling Program, in which every camper is given a bag to fill with the litter they come across during their walk along the beach.
Rewards in the form of camp privileges are given to campers for every one hundred pieces of litter picked up. This program aims to provide an eye-opening first hand experience into the extent of pollution on our shores, and to get kids to take the responsibility in participating in the clean up - a first step towards effective environmental conservation.
Farming and Environmental Education Tours
As part of their Farming and Environmental Education tours, Sugar Bay invites expert guest speakers to address the campers in the form of a mini-conference.
One of the most popular guest speakers is Kingsley Holgate, a South African explorer, humanitarian and author who resides in the local area. Kingsley is never shy to share his adventure travel experiences with the kids, and he educates them on how to use adventure to improve and save lives. He teaches the kids about the significance of wildlife conservation, malaria prevention, water purification and overall, how to make a positive difference in peoples’ lives.
Besides camp being a great escape from technology, an adventure in the wilderness and s'mores at the campfire; camp is also one of the best ways to educate future generations about the environment while having fun. This just proves that there certainly is no limit to learning at camp.
To book a camp that includes nature education, please contact the Sugar Bay offices on (032) 485 3778. For more information, visit Sugar Bay's website.
Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, be inspired by our Pinterest picture collections, Review us on our GooglePlus page, be apart of our experiences by becoming a subscriber to our YouTube Channel and keep commenting on all our blogs!
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