Nature Connect

Green Hearts inspire youth through nature exploration at Rondevlei Island Campsite! 💚 Last month, Green Hearts, a recipient of the Nature Care Fund's Small Grants, embarked on an incredible two-day journey with their youth group (aged 10-19) at the Rondevlei Island Campsite. The experience was filled with laughter, learning, and new friendships as the group explored the reserve and spent quality time under the open sky. Witnessing the students' eagerness to learn was truly inspiring. Here are some of the most impactful moments: "I learnt so many new things today!" – A student sharing their newfound knowledge about nature. "My experience at the Nature Connect Camp has been unlike any other excursion I've been on. I've learnt so much about nature and even discovered things about myself." – A 19-year-old reflecting on their journey of self-discovery. "There are so many things I see every day because I live close to the Rondevlei Nature Reserve. But being here in the middle of it makes it even more beautiful! I have a better understanding of this area now." – A 10-year-old highlighting the transformative power of experiencing nature firsthand. The group participated in a guided walk where they explored the wonders of Rondevlei and learnt about the vital role snakes play in the ecosystem. An educational session allowed the students to touch and hold these fascinating creatures, fostering appreciation for all animals. 🐍 A huge thank you to Anwar and Liezal, educators from our Connect to Nature team, for making this an unforgettable experience for the Green Hearts youth group! #NatureConnect #TableMountainFund #environmentaleducation #RondevleiNatureReserve #GreenHearts

Today is the start of Plastic-Free July. Research shows that every year, between one million to two million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans globally, harming marine life, ecosystems, and even finding its way into our food chain. This July, let's turn the tide together! Join the global movement – #PlasticFreeJuly - and make a conscious effort to reduce your single-use plastic consumption. Every small action counts. Here's how you can participate in the #PlasticFreeJuly challenge. - Ditch the disposables: Invest in a reusable water bottle and coffee cup. Packing your own reusable shopping bags is another simple yet impactful step. - Become a savvy shopper: Many everyday products come wrapped in excessive plastic packaging. Become a mindful consumer – choose items with minimal or recyclable packaging whenever possible. - Get creative and reduce waste: Don't throw away those old plastic containers! Upcycle them for storage or other uses. This not only reduces waste but can be a fun and sustainable alternative. - Spread the word: Share your plastic-free swaps on social media and encourage friends and colleagues to join the movement. Together, we can create a powerful ripple effect of positive change! By participating in #PlasticFreeJuly, you're not just making a personal commitment, but also aligning yourself with a global movement for a healthier planet. Visit our website to learn more about our work and discover how your skills and passion can contribute to a sustainable future. https://lnkd.in/dhtNsi2z Let’s work together to protect our natural heritage by keeping plastic out of our rivers, oceans and landfills. This July, embrace the challenge, make a conscious effort to reduce your plastic footprint and inspire others to do the same! Head to: https://lnkd.in/f6rJSUr for additional resources to support your Plastic-Free July.

Nature Care Fund’s  Small Grants manager, Kim Gordon, and Assistant, Meagan Eddy, joined Community Women Action on its most recent field excursion to the Cape Flats Nature Reserve at the University of the Western Cape. The day was insightful. UWC’s Laurenda van Breda and CWA learners shared their knowledge about medicinal fynbos plants, healing roots and the symbiotic Cape mole rat.  We found out about what you can safely eat, such as the red berries of Muraltia spinosa (tortoise berry), orange-brown berries of Searsia lucida (glossy current) and black berries of Osteospermum moniliferum (bietoubos). We also learned about the healing properties in the underground parts of other fynbos plants, such as the bulb of the currently flowering Haemanthus coccineus (April fool, blood lily or paintbrush lily). The rhizome of the vine-like Cissampelos capensis (Dawidtjiewortel) can be used to purify blood and treat numerous other ailments. There was so much more to see like  Imperata cylindrical (sword / cotton-wool / kunai grass), the main breeding grounds of the critically endangered Kedestes butterflies (Ranger butterfly); suspended nests of Cocktail ants; and the sand mounds left by the local Cape dune mole rat. We all agreed that gardeners who get upset at these moles—which often can destroy a flat green patch of Kikuyu grass—should not be laying lawns but advocating for indigenous gardens instead! Many thanks to the UWC Nature Reserve team for hosting CWA and providing an enriching experience for this group of keen up-and-coming conservationists. #reversethered #CommunityWomenAction #capeflatsnaturereserve #uwc

Happy World Upcycling Day! ♻️ Nature Connect aims to help the people of Africa love and protect nature. We do this primarily by giving learners a chance to connect with nature through camps and field day programmes. For those out of school, we present opportunities that allow youth to acquire skills that could lead towards a livelihood working in nature. All our interventions aim to encourage personal uptake of behaviour that leaves a lighter footprint on the one world we all must share. Upcycling Day reminds us of one of these opportunities to change our behaviour for the good of our planet.   Upcycling involves transforming discarded materials into new items, reducing waste and conserving our planet’s resources. It’s an inspiring way to turn something old into something extraordinary. ✨ Why upcycle? It reduces waste: By upcycling, we minimise the amount of waste sent to landfills. Every item we repurpose is one less piece of rubbish polluting our ecosystems and the environment. We save resources: Upcycling conserves raw materials and reduces the need for new production. This helps preserve natural resources and decreases the environmental footprint of manufacturing. It sparks creativity: Upcycling unleashes creativity and innovation. It challenges us to see potential in what others might consider waste. It can boost the economy: Upcycling encourages a circular economy where resources are reused and repurposed, creating economic opportunities and fostering sustainable communities. 🔧 How to get involved: Start small: Look around your home for items you can repurpose. An old ladder can become a shelf for plants, or a mason jar can turn into a seed sprouter. Support local upcyclers: Purchase products from people who specialise in upcycling. This supports their craft and reduces your carbon footprint. Educate and advocate: Spread the word about the benefits of upcycling. Encourage friends and family to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives. (If you’re a school, our Sustainable Schools project has loads of resources.) Every small action counts in the journey towards a more sustainable future.🌍 #worldupcyclingday #savetheplanet #gogreen #natureconnect_upcycle

Our river wardens are honing their skills in fauna management, learning to address community concerns and monitor wildlife. The wardens recently completed a module on camera trapping and even visited the Two Oceans Aquarium to understand pollution's impact and sustainable seafood choices. #natureconnect #capetown #natureconservation

Make A Difference Week: Ecological Restoration at Kenilworth Racecourse 🌍🌿 Join us in celebrating the amazing efforts at the Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area (KRCA) during Society For Ecological Restoration (SER) Make A Difference Week! This year, our dedicated volunteers helped restore 0.1 hectares of critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, planting 200 plants from 20 different species, including several threatened ones. Managed by our #NatureCareFund team, KRCA remains a vital haven of biodiversity amidst Cape Town's urban sprawl. Read more about it here: https://lnkd.in/dGBaHJ8j #MakeADifference #EcologicalRestoration #CapeFlatsSandFynbos #KenilworthRacecourse #NatureConnect #SER_Africa

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭����𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞: "𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲"! We're thrilled to announce our brand-new short course, "RiverGuard Water Safety"! An intensive 3-day training where participants dive deep into essential modules, including: 🌟Water Smart Strategies 🌟Survival Swimming Techniques 🌟Basic Water Rescue Skills Learners gain invaluable insights into water dynamics, environmental factors, and water risks, focusing on working in and around rivers and wetlands. Thank you to Sea Point Pavilion for assisting with one of the practical days and a special shout out to Finz Aquatics and Fitness Development for providing their indoor heated pool for the other practical session this week, making the survival swimming training an incredible experience! Contact us to book your water safety training at greenskills@natureconnect.earth.

Training Intervention by our Green Skills Team This week, the Green Skills team from Nature Connect delivered an intensive training on fauna management, as part of their certificate in Nature Conservation. The training provided learners with essential skills to address sociological issues in conservation, manage wildlife, and perform game capture operations. Highlights included placing camera traps, capturing footage of local fauna, and gaining hands-on experience in wildlife monitoring. Groen Sebenza Interns shared their projects, with Luke Foster demonstrating bat detection technology and Braden Ingram discussing toad conservation. In celebration of World Turtle Day, learners toured the Two Oceans Aquarium’s turtle rehabilitation centre and learnt about marine animal rescue. They also practised technical skills, created insect identification keys, and improved teamwork and public speaking. This comprehensive training enriched learners' practical skills and deepened their commitment to wildlife management. If you are interested in the qualifications and short courses we offer, please email us at greenskills@natureconnect.earth. #GreenSkills #NatureConservation #QuemicRangers #CapeTown #FaunaManagement #WildlifeConservation #CameraTraps #WildlifeMonitoring #Biodiversity #GroenSebenza #EnvironmentalEducation #Urban

Earlier this month, The River Wardens embarked on their journey towards earning their Further Education and Training Certificate in Nature Conservation: Natural Resource Guardianship Terrestrial. They have just completed their first week of training with the Green Skills training team of Nature Connect at the Rotary Youth Camp in Glen Cairn. During this week-long training camp, the learners delved into Communications in the Workplace. The comprehensive content covered included: - Comprehension skills - Interpreting texts - Engaging in effective communication - Roleplaying interviews - Debating environmental topics - Researching environmental issues - Presenting to an audience - Writing technical reports For many, it was their first experience using PowerPoint and presenting in front of an audience. The learners also dedicated late hours in the computer lab to complete their reports, showcasing their commitment and determination. Well done to all the learners on completing the first of five modules! Your hard work and dedication are truly inspiring. Keep up the fantastic work! #NatureConservation #RiverWardens #GreenSkills #Training #CapeTown