Teachers have a ball at eco-training workshop in the Kruger National Park

The Klaserie Children’s Eco-training held its first teacher’s training from March 11 to 13, 2007. “We wanted to focus on one of our scarce resources and focused on “Water” as our theme,” says Zani Kunz, coordinator of the training initiative. Nine trainers, two assistant trainers, Warren Howson, the official cameraman, and James Lewis, an expert workshop facilitator, were not afraid to tackle thorny issues head-on. “The training was very interactive and full of controversial discussions about water in nearby towns and villages, global warming, bilharzia and the recycling of water,” says Zani.First on the agenda was a Bio-monitoring exercise, facilitated by Dr Thomas Gyedu-Ababio, the Kruger National Park’s (KNP) manager of aquatic biodiversity conservation.

Standing knee-deep in the Klaserie, keeping a watchful eye for unexpected guests, while hunting for invertebrates (and other ‘goggos’), proved an unnerving experience for many. The result of the Bio-monitoring test showed that the Klaserie river is clean and healthy.A visit to a waterhole in the area produced interesting observations. “We found a buffalo near the dam, which lead to lots of speculation about the role of water in hunting tactics. Attention was paid to the vegetation, insect and animal life found around a waterhole.”Zani said a very unusual, but enjoyable quiz ended the training.

The trainers were divided into two teams for a soccer match. Every time a foul was committed, the guilty team had to answer a question from the opposing team and the game would resume. The children’s training will take place from April 2 to 5, 2007 at the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve Head quarters. Three hundred and fifty children have been registered to do the training. The training workshops started in September 2004 and Klaserie Eco-training has established itself as a sustainable and recognisable organisation.

For more information contact Zani 082 462 8252 or zani@cet-kpnr.co.za. “We would like to thank Hoedspruit Spar and Lebamba, thank you for your continuous support of the programme. You help us make a difference to the lives of so many families and in doing so, preserve our precious environment.”