Scrabbling around in rock pools in search of treasure at the end of the African continent is a treat for any kid — even if the treasure comprises flotsam and jetsam washed up on the shores around Cape Point. The grade five and six pupils from Lehlohonolo Primary School in Guguletu emerge holding twisted pieces of kelp, perlemoen shells, cuttlefish bones, gull feathers, barnacle-encrusted rocks and the odd smelly marine object. Only the two most precious pieces from each group are taken back to the Bordjiesrif classroom, where explanations and a closer look in the microscope reveal an entirely new world.
This is just one element of Table Mountain National Park’s (TMNP) Kids in Parks programme, aimed at giving learners a greater understanding of natural history and the environment. The Kids in Parks programme is targeted primarily at Cape Town’s disadvantaged youth, who do not have the opportunity or transport to visit the park. A brightly coloured bus ferries them around various TMNP venues; but be warned, with transport costing only R5 a person, the bus is booked for months ahead. Additional costs are R2 a child, with teachers free, for entry into the park.
Since the park is diverse, with numerous venues, the programme is spread over three days. On the first day learners investigate afro-montane forest in Newlands and explore the Silvermine River, where they stay overnight in the Sunbird Centre. Reaching the top of Table Mountain via cable car is the highlight of day two, finishing off with an exploration of Cape Point in the afternoon. Close encounters with African penguins at Boulders complete the day three of the programme.
Overnight stays at the Sunbird Centre cost R10 a child per night and R20 per adult. During school holidays after-care groups are encouraged to visit because more buses are available. Special TMNP entry permits are extended to previously disadvantaged community groups, shelters and support groups, which fall outside normal education parameters.
With almost 42 000 pupils, teachers and outreach participants visiting the park, not every school group can be accompanied by the park’s education facilitators. Instead, intensive teacher workshops are run annually to train educators to give their groups a quality experience. Five resource booklets and easy instructions on how to organise a trip, plus excellent lesson plans linked to the curriculum, make a visit to the park worthwhile even for those who have not been trained.
Lasting appreciation of nature can come only through exposure to the parks and this is where the Table Mountain People’s Trail comes in. This two-day trip for high school learners is a self-catering, self-carrying, short hike with an overnight stop on the table top after ascending Disa Gorge — one of the most beautiful of all routes. The trail can accommodate 16 learners at a time.