The Iimbovane, Science Outside Camp brought together girls from Luhlaza Secondary School, Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology and South Peninsula High School together for 3 days at the rustic UCSA Kijk in die Pot Campsite in Pniel.

They were welcomed by the Faculty of Science’s Recruitment Officer, the vibrant Ms Maambele (Ambie) Khosa, who introduced the girls to the culture of varsity and the various degrees in science. The learners also engaged in a question-and-answer session followed by the handover of information packs for further reference.

Thereafter the girls changed quickly into their hiking clothes and went off for a site visit to the Banhoek Conservancy  to learn about the management of invasive alien plants and restoration.

Rose Jordaan, the owner of Plaisir de Merle, took the girls through the Meulstroom Trail, which forms part of the Banhoek Conservancy, to show them the various invasive alien plants that occurred there and how these were being cleared through mainly mechanical and minimal chemical treatments. Rose also pointed out the pioneer fynbos and forest species that has returned following the clearing efforts. The girls also learned a lot about Rose’s role in conservation as a woman and the importance of the work that they do to prevent invasive alien plants from taking over indigenous forest and fynbos habitats leading to biodiversity loss.

It was also interesting for the girls to see where the processed wood from the invasive alien plants ended up after being cut down, where they saw how heap cuttings had been recycled and used as mulch for the soil.

As part of their field investigation, the girls undertook a quadrant sampling experiment to observe and compare the composition of plant species at two sites. The one site, Rose and her team have been clearing regularly, whilst the other site had not yet been cleared and is heavily invaded.

The following day the girls conducted a river study on the Banhoek River that flows though the campsite. The river was filled will various invertebrates that had a high sensitivity score such as the stoneflies and mayflies. The girls further investigated the Eerste River at Stellenbosch and compared the data of the two rivers.

On the last day of the camp the learners worked hard to complete their presentations with the assistance of Live Jaca and Prudence Kgetjepe, who are currently studying their Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Stellenbosch University. Live and Prudence were interested to take part and see how teaching science outside of the classroom can be beneficial to learners.