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Mokolodi Education Centre
Educational Objectives
More then 11000 young people a year visit Mokolodi's Education Centre. It caters for students from all educational levels including the tertiary institutions and provides environmental education on both a residential and day-visit basis. Two purpose-built thatched dormitories provide comfortable accommodation for residential visitors.
The objectives of the Centre
are as follows:
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To create generations of children who are knowledgeable about their natural heritage and are interested in preserving it.
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To provide students and teachers with an opportunity to learn not only about wildlife, but also about different habitats, ecosystems, plants, trees and their traditional uses and to learn about cultural practices that have an environmental focus.
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To provide students and teachers with opportunities to see conservation in action in a natural setting.
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To encourage on-going long-term environmental projects in the student's own home.
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To promote the concept and practices of sustainable development with
an environmental focus.
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To promote the concept of behaviour, values and action for the environment.
Educational Approach
To set the stage for visiting educational groups, most courses start out at the Education Centre where there is a library, museum, main hall and a traditional lolwapa. The lolwapa is used as a casual lecture venue for orientating students towards the primary aims of assisting conservation and fostering environmental awareness. These initial talks introduce many of the environmental topics that are later covered in the bush.
Outdoor Classroom
The primary focus of the education programme is to conduct all classes outdoors. This enables the students to have a hands-on experience with as little traditional classroom teaching as possible. This approach is well known by many professional educators as essential
to the learning process. The outdoor classroom requires skills not easily demonstrated or used in the classroom. On the rare occasions that the weather is inclement, indoor activities, ranging from quizzes and environmental games to environmental debates and drama, are undertaken until nature allows the outdoor classroom to be explored.
Fieldwork
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Gives relevance to topics that could otherwise remain as secondary learning.
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Is concerned with reality
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Enables students to observe, record, analyse, present and interpret their own investigations.
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Provides pupils with opportunities to look closely at aspects of a local environment and introduces the idea of environmental responsibility.
Camps in the bush
At least three times a year, the Education Centre at Mokolodi Nature Reserve organises a holiday camp for children between the ages of 8 and 13. The children enjoy two nights camping under the stars out in the bush and two days of action-packed activities in and around the park.
Courses for Adults
Courses at Mokolodi are not limited only to younger students.Based on the courses that have been created for students, the adult courses aim at instilling a basic understanding of the natural environment.Topics covered include geology, landforms, fauna and conservation laws, spoor and dropping identification as well as the identification, natural history and ecology of major flora and fauna.
Professional Guide courses are offered at Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Held over a period of 12 days, they give adults the chance to become qualified professional guides.
Another adult course is the 5-day Community Based Organisation (CBO) Training.This course gives CBO staff a chance to manage their projects and gives a better understanding of CBNRM (Community Based Natural Resource Management).
An Environmental Educators Course over 5 days is offered to people involved in formal Environmental Education and community EE awareness.
Attachment Programme
Courses at Mokolodi
Environmental Educators working in different Environmental Centres and National Parks in Southern Africa can
come and work at Mokolodi for a period of not less than 2 weeks. Accommodation and
a food allowance are provided.
How to Book
If you would like to inquire about availability of courses, holiday camps, attachments or to book a school visit, you can contact the Administrative Assistant at the Education Centre on telephone no. (00267) 3161 955 or 3161 956 or send an e-mail to
edudirector@info.bw Due to the Education Centre's popularity, places need to be booked well in advance.
Donations The Education Centre at Mokolodi Nature Reserve partially operates on funds generated from the tourist activities in the park. The rest of the funding comes from donations. If you would like to help support the activities of the Education Centre, please contact the Education Director on telephone no. (00267)
3161 955 or 3161 956 or send an e-mail to edudirector@info.bw
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