Day 2 of our CITW Botswana’s Conservation Science Camp started with a morning biodiversity walk led by Rob Taylor of Wilderness Safaris Botswana’s Environmental team. The walk was intended to get everyone warmed up for the day ahead, and to nurture interest in nature for the participants.
Using a net, participants were able to catch, and examine up close, various insects found in the area, including butterflies and dragonflies. The participants also had an opportunity to see and identify various local birds and plants (including carnivorous plants and wild basil). The participants were shown a drone in order to have firsthand experience on how they are used for environmental conservation.
The rest of the day was filled with educational and fun-filled activities. Jess from Oxford WildCRU, Manga from the University of Botswana, and Segametsi and Rob led activities, which included bird watching, water usage and water conservation, setting up camera traps, the creation of worm farms and waste separation stations for waste management. Educational games included ‘Ecological Jenga’, and a ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ game to illustrate the individual’s responsibility in achieving long-term sustainable use for the benefit of the community.
The CITW Botswana team of Lesh, Kelly and Gaba, and Leslie from the Ministry of Basic Education, kept the participants’ morale and energy levels at a maximum, with energiser activities throughout the day.
Here Moalosi chats to one of the learners on the camp
Report by Moalosi Lebekwe – CITW Botswana Programme Co-ordinator
