“Are you guys still up for this?” was the question cautiously asked, “100%. We are 110, no, we are 200% committed…” announced coordinator Christo at the beginning of the last get together of the Baviaanskloof Nature Awareness Group held at Sewefontein Community Farm.
Key members of the Baviaanskloof Nature Awareness (BNA) Group got together to discuss their action plan for the coming months. The group was recently awarded a micro-grant from the Table Mountain Fund to support their ambitions in furthering nature skills training and community education and awareness initiatives.
The meeting was also an occasion to present the group with a pre-loved Canon digital camerakindly arranged by Marion and her generous contacts. To say they were stoked borders on an understatement. eyes4earth.org also gifted the group the DVD “The Great Dance” – a stunning Foster Brothers film about the Kalahari (Kgalagadi) San Bushmen and their tracking and chasing hunt… which the BNA Group drew inspiration from when screened at the March workshop.
Current priorities for the BNA Group are as follows:
- Document traditional knowledge from local elders before while it is still physically present in the Baviaanskloof.
- Seek mentorship from one or two experienced individuals to gain further confidence and competence in wilderness skills, nature guiding & environmental education.
- Share newfound nature knowledge with fellow community youth through formal and informal ways.
And, as has been a trademark feature of each of the four get-togethers of the BNA Group over the past nine months, the gathering was again preceded by rain, dry throughout and then christened by an impressive rainbow afterward… weird but wonderful.
So we’ll keep chasing that pot of gold. Until we find it, if you’re keen to help this community-based initiative, your donations would be welcome here. Alternatively, if you are able to volunteer your expertise in nature awareness or environmental education, contact: matt@earthcollective.net
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