Children in the Wilderness (CITW) hosted another successful annual camp at Rocktail Beach Camp for six girls and six boys from each of the schools where CITW runs its programmes. A total of 24 children from Vululwazi and Kwamqobela Primary Schools and a teacher representative from each school attended this four day, three night camp.
This is the first time the camp was held in the middle of winter. Weather varied between sunny and overcast with wind, but nothing deterred the outdoor activities, including beach games and a trip to Lake Sibaya.
Leadership Values, teambuilding, Web of Life and Food Chains, Turtles and Sustainable Fishing were included in the programme. The new ‘No Littering’ activity – 10-pin bowling reusing 2-litre plastic bottles and a homemade plastic ball – was an absolute success with everyone!
Children love receiving Super Camper Awards for their participation and learning at camp. This year we splurged on a lovely book called “All about South Africa”. Each child received a knitted bear from the Mother Bear Project.
Rocktail Camp staff took on the roles of the Eco-Mentors doubling as tent-, team- and activity leaders. Jan Mallen (CITW Board member) and Liza Steyn (CITW Bookkeeper) joined us for this camp as volunteers. Given Mbonambi (CITW Eco-Club Coordinator for Rocktail) was the Camp Director. Siboniso Mthethwa (CITW Eco-Club Coordinator for KwaMqobela) was a very active assistant. What a wonderful team we had running this camp.
What the children had to say:
- No littering because you can kill animals that live in a water – Xolile (12)
- I am feeling very happy to be the camp – Asande (14)
- I like to go and have fun outside and learning – Nonqubeko (11)
- I want to learn about cultures of different peoples – Thobile (11)
- We went to look different scorpions at the forest – Luyanda (13)
- Important thing I learnt is to not littering – Mlondi (12)
