Karoo Desert NBG Biodiversity Education and Empowerment Programme
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The following programmes are offered:
What we have achieved
This programme started when environmental education officers from Kirstenbosch NBG and the Harold Porter NBG initiated teacher professional development projects in the Karoo Desert NBG in 2007 and 2008.
- In 2007 the project was proposed and supported by the Western Cape Education Department in Worcester in the form of planning, identifying participating schools, attending meetings and participating in the workshops and lessons.
- In 2008 Teacher Professional Development Project, the Parmalat Company generously funded a similar teacher professional development project. They funded all the materials, the learners' transport to the Garden and a breakfast snack, a light lunch, a sun visa and a pencil box. The WCED in Worcester identified ten rural (farm) schools in the area as participants.This project followed the same structure as before; a workshop and 'demonstration' lessons followed by the educators teaching the lesson. The learners and educators reported back to us that they now viewed the Succulent and Nama Karoo vegetation with new eyes and that they would try to conserve the natural areas of vegetation on their school grounds or on the surrounding farms.
- During 2010 we greened 3 Worcester schools as part of our Outreach Greening Officer's one year contract which ended in October 2010.
- During 2011 we celebrated National Science Week at the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden inviting 6 schools to a special Plant Adaptation and the Global Warming lesson.
At present there is no education staff based at the Karoo Desert NBG. The Senior Environmental Education Officer of Harold Porter, Eunice Jurgens is responsible for Biodiversity Education at the Karoo Desert NBG
Contact Details:
Eunice Jurgens
Senior Environmental Education Officer
Biodiversity Education and Empowerment
Harold Porter National Botanical Garden
Betty's Bay, 7141
Tel: 028 2729311
Fax: 028 2729333
Fax to Email: 0865889526
Cell: 079 3938730
Email: Karoo.Desert.NBG@sanbi.org.za
Last updated on 04 March 2013