CHILDREN IN THE JUNGLE

Objective

This is a school’s nature camp aimed at introducing basic environmental concepts creating greater awareness and understanding of the environment by children ultimately leading to grassroot conservation efforts.

Plan / vision

The children will get an opportunity to experience and appreciate nature in real-time.

The children will learn the importance of nature, biodiversity and conservation through hands-on participation in activities organized.

They also get an opportunity to reflect and discuss their learning through interactive sessions (group discussions, presentations, debates, quizzes), fun activities and games.

Location of the camp

One of the National Parks and Wildlife Reserves and this will be rotated yearly (e.g. this year in Queen Elizabeth National Park and the next in Akagera National Park etc).

Target age group

Children leaving primary education to join secondary, that is; Primary 6 & 7.

Duration of the camp

The camp is between 3-5 days

Activities

The children will explore and learn about nature, enhance their observation and interpretation skills through field visits and walks.

Start : Introductory session (around a campfire) where the children will be briefed on the geography, flora, fauna, the environmental issues faced by the area they will be in and do’s and don’ts of the camp.

• A Q & A session where the children are asked what they know about the nature and what they expect to learn or do while at the camp (they write this in their nature logbooks that will be provided at the beginning of the camp).

During :The children will be grouped and taken on field visits and walks where they will experience nature while identifying the flora and fauna during these activities.

• Nature Walk and Sounds of Nature where the children will be taken on walks in different tracks inside the national park. These walks will be planned such that they would be able to experience the different landscapes and habitats of the national park (from grasslands to forests to wetlands). As part of experiencing nature, they will be asked to close their eyes and tune in all their senses to the environment and later note down what they felt and heard.
• Games such as animal spotting will be played; where the children will be asked to spot and identify as many animals as they can.
• Other exercises can include: i) ‘pick a tree’ where the children chose a tree and describe it (shape, height, structure, leaves, fruits etc), ii) Star gazing and Night watch – with an insect trap (moth viewing) and iii) Nature Skits.
• An (Education for Conservation) component will be conducted as part of the activities. This will take the shape and form of a debate where the children will discuss conservation related topics such as “the size of national parks should be increased.”

End : Feedback and Sharing of experiences: the children will be asked to reflect on the time spent at the camp, the lessons they will be taking home (to share with their friends and family). They will also reflect on steps that they can take to protect and conserve nature.

Lastly, the children will be given a certificate of participation.

Things to prepare for the camp