Rangers on the Road: Bringing Environmental Education to No-Fee Schools
Rangers on the Road: Bringing Environmental Education to No-Fee Schools
This year, we kicked off our Rangers on the Road programme with a visit to Springdale Primary School in Mitchells Plain, bringing environmental education directly into the classroom, sharing a piece of Intaka Island with learners by educating and inspiring future conservationists.
For these Grade 7 learners, it was an opportunity to step outside the usual textbook lesson and explore the important role we all play in caring for our environment through an interactive session focused on waste recycling. Learners discovered how everyday choices can make a difference to the environment. From consumer habits, the way we use and dispose of waste, to the ways we can protect our natural environment through mindful actions.
The learners had an exciting and interactive experience during our Rangers on the Road visit.
As the Rangers taught them about waste recycling and the importance of making environmentally responsible choices, the learners eagerly answered questions, putting their knowledge to the test and winning plenty of prizes along the way!
The excitement grew even more when Intaka’s mascot, Captain Feathers, made a special appearance, adding a fun and memorable touch to the day. Through the interactive session, learners were able to step beyond the textbook and engage with environmental education in a fun way.
Bringing Intaka Island to the classroom
Intaka Island provides a unique outdoor classroom where learners can connect what they learn in school with the natural world around them. Every week, schools from across the city visit Intaka Island to experience our educational offerings. However, for many no-fee schools, the cost of travelling to Intaka can be a significant barrier.
The Intaka Island Rangers on the Road programme was launched in 2023 to help bridge that gap, with a particular focus on no-fee primary schools in the Southern District of the WCED (e.g. Cape Flats). The programme takes Intaka’s environmental education experience directly to schools through a 45-minute interactive roadshow covering sustainability and waste recycling.
This Rangers on the Road visit to Springdale Primary is part of this ongoing effort to bring environmental learning to more learners, wherever they are in the Southern District of the WCED.
From the classroom to the island
The impact of Rangers on the Road extends beyond a day of activities. As a next step after the roadshow, these learners are invited to visit Intaka Island to experience our educational programmes in a hands-on outdoor setting.
This is where environmental education really comes to life. When young people have the opportunity to explore, ask questions and experience the natural environment first-hand, they can begin to see that protecting it is something they can be part of.
Get involved and make the journey possible
The visit to Springdale Primary is just one stop on the journey. Intaka Island is working to expand the reach of Rangers on the Road and ensure that more no-fee school learners can experience both the roadshow and a visit to Intaka Island.
Corporate and individual sponsorships can help make this possible by covering the costs associated with bringing learners to the Island and giving them a meaningful environmental education experience.
If you would like to support Rangers on the Road and help bring environmental education to more learners, get in touch:
Email: info@intaka.co.za | Phone: 021 552 6889
The Intaka Island Trust is a registered Public Benefit Organisation with Section 18A approval from SARS, allowing it to issue tax-deductible certificates to donors and sponsors.
Shanely Alexander
