By: Parks Leshaba, NZG Education Officer.
The Covid-19 pandemic has presented different learning opportunities for the ZooClub programme. The ZooClub received an invitation from the organisers of the Bushveld Mosaic Environmental Course to attend an environmental interpretation and appreciation workshop in Pilanesberg National Park in the North West Province on 11 September 2021. The Practical Weekend forms an integral part of the Bushveld Mosaic course, as it provides a learning experience for the attendees on how to interact with learners in environmental education.
The ZooClub grasped the invite. The necessary preparations for the participation and attendance of the ZooClub were kick-started a few weeks before the visit and were finalised on time.
The workshop was based on the two ecosystems prevalent at the Pilanesberg National Park, namely the “rocky slopes” and the “grasslands”. Upon our arrival early on Saturday morning, the ZooClub members were welcomed with a quick bite to eat, then divided into two groups to alternate between the two presentation sites.
At the “rocky slopes”, members were given an overview of the site, emphasising the different rock formations, the catena, the trees, grasses, and animals frequenting this area.
The engagement at the “grasslands” was based on the different types of grasses growing here. Their usage by animal grazers and products manufactured from grasses were further emphasised, as were various living organisms that inhabit the grasslands together with the carrying capacity of the ecosystem and the palatability of individual grass species.
ZooClub members were then given an opportunity to present their own project on waste management, amplifying entrepreneurship, technology and raising awareness through social learning. In this way, a two-way flow of communication and information was established.
By now, everyone was hungry. We enjoyed a tasty and filling lunch. Then it was off on a game drive. Here we saw warthog, zebra, giraffe, hippo and various other creatures. A highlight was the elephant, a first sighting in the wild for many ZooClub members. Equally exciting was a Kori Bustard, strutting away from us while keeping a beady eye on the vehicle. The drive’s highlight was undoubtedly a white rhino mother and her calf – so good to see these enormous animals doing well despite the severe poaching pressure. The veld was dry at the end of winter, with some sections burnt in anticipation of the spring rains.
At 18h00, after spending 12 hours travelling, listening and exploring, the ZooClub members arrived back at the National Zoo. Thank you, Bushveld Mosaic, for making this unique experience possible!