Iimbovane hosted a Grade 10 Life Sciences camp in De Hoop Nature Reserve during the 2025 October school holiday, giving learners the chance to explore the reserve’s rich biodiversity while learning how to use scientific methods to collect biodiversity data.
A total of 26 learners and 5 educators from Swartberg Secondary School and Swellendam Secondary School participated in the camp. Five undergraduate students from the Stellenbosch University’s Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, and Botany and Zoology also joined the camp to guide and share their knowledge with the learners.
The camp began with a surprise visit from a Pofadder snake (Bitis arietans) on grass just outside the camp centre’s door. After being spotted the snake slowly moved away, however, to keep the group and the snake safe, it was gentle moved into a crate and released in a field far away from the camp centre. This opened a lively discussion on safety when collecting data in the field.
Science Journalist Intern of the School for Climate Studies, Skyla Thornton, presented a session on Nature Journalling and showed the learners how to incorporate writing, drawing and numbers during their field investigations.
Learners were then taken to the field where they used vegetation quadrants to assess species composition of different sites. This activity taught learners how to collect scientific data, assess species composition via observation, and using plant identification books and applications such as iNaturalist.
While performing their vegetation quadrants, the learners were treated by a few whales putting on a display of breaches close to the beach. For many learners, witnessing these gentle giants for the first time was an unforgettable experience — and certainly the highlight of the camp.
The drive back to the campsite brought more surprises learners’ spotting bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus), ostrich (Struthio), eland (Taurotragus oryx), Cape Mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) and lots of birds of prey along the way. The evening delivered another unexpected sighting, as learners got an up-close look at fireflies and their larvae during a session on invertebrate collection using light-trapping.
On the last day, Iimbovane was joined by the Maties Sport Ultimate Frisbee team. The team introduced the learners to the exciting sport of frisbee, focusing on Ultimate Frisbee, which is played in teams. They demonstrated the basics of throwing and catching a frisbee while explaining the rules and teamwork involved in the game. Learners then participated in a friendly tournament between groups, enjoying a fun activity that encouraged teamwork, endurance, and resilience.
Through its series of biodiversity-focused activities, the Iimbovane camp helped learners understand the methods that ecologists use to study nature while also strengthening their teamwork skills, as they collaborated and shared observations as a team.
