Over 50 Kids Receive Environmental Education at CCF Camps

CCF hosted two five-day environmental education camps for kids at its Field Research and Education Centre during the holiday time in late April and early May. Both camps were made possible by the generous support of the First National Bank (FNB).

The Otjiwarongo branch manager of FNB Namibia, Mr. Louw Durand, hands ovrer the Jubatus Kids Camp sponsorship check to CCF's General Manager, Dr. Bruce Brewer, in the presence of Mr. Marius Steenkamp (center), FNB's Regional Agricultural Manager of the North. (c) Cheetah Conservation Fund

Over 50 kids attending these camps learned about conservation-related topics such as the role of predators in the ecosystem, predator identification, raising and training livestock guarding dogs, cultivating leadership qualities, while also participating in team building activities, game drives and art projects.

“We at CCF believe very strongly in the importance of education about predators,” said Dr. Laurie Marker, founder and Executive Director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. “Nearly every large predator is either threatened or endangered in Namibia and its surrounding areas. The loss of these great animals would be a tragedy for Namibia and the world and would have a severe impact ecologically, economically, and even culturally. The reasons for the decline in predators are numerous, but all relate back to a basic misunderstanding of these animals and the role they serve in the ecosystem. CCF works to counteract the reasons for the decline in predators, but without fighting the misunderstandings through environmental education at a young age, the possibility of success is minimal.”

“Being part of this camp and being able to see the excitement and wonder first hand on the faces of the children of seeing a cheetah for the first time in their lives and learning about the exciting world of birds makes you want to do it over and over again,” said CCF’s Environmental Education Officer Ignatius Davids. “I believe every child that comes through the doors of CCF goes back home with a sense of wonderment and love for nature and its animals, and with an attitude of being agents of change.”

Participants of the first CCF's Jubatus Kids Holiday Camp held in late April. (c) Cheetah Conservation Fund

Davids’ assessment was made evident by feedback received from parents after the camp: “Thank you very much for the nice, educational Jubatus Kids Holiday Camp which Manuela attended. She enjoyed it very much. Since she is at home she did not stop talking about the camp.“

Participants of the second CCF's Jubatus Kids Holiday Camp held in May. (c) Cheetah Conservation Fund