COURSES AND ACTIVITIES [Contact Us for more information]

Environmental Education
All courses offered at Umgeni Valley have several underlying outcomes:

• sharpening senses and stimulating an awareness of the environment and its problems
• investigating ecological and geographical concepts through a learner-centred practical approach to learning
• satisfying curriculum needs through environmental investigation and the completion of student projects after the course
• developing problem solving skills, on an individual level and through group work
• providing an opportunity for solitude and reflection as a means of clarifying and reconsidering values and attitudes
• reinforcing a long term positive attitude to the environment through enjoyable experiences
• encouraging continued involvement in the resolution of environmental and social issues.

Information for teachers
We offer education and lifeskills courses, as well as adventure activities. You are encouraged to design your own programme based on the activities listed below OR tell us what you have in mind and we’ll design a programme for you!

Educational and adventure activities offered at Umgeni Valley for 1-DAY outings or OVERNIGHT camps:
Solitaire (30 minutes-2 hours)
(Time of quiet and reflective solitude with opportunities for writing short poetry, creative drawing, and simply enjoying being in the bush surrounded by nature sounds. Ideal for creative drawing, thinking and writing activities)

O.B.E. ecosystem studies – in grassland, savannah, forest, stream, soil or the Umgeni river (4 hours)
(Participants gain an in-depth knowledge of the workings of that ecosystem using meaningful process skills and a formal group report back using visual aids)

Co-operative teamwork activities (2 hours)
(Fun, interactive ‘problem-solving’ situations requiring mental and physical planning and action)


Obstacle course (3 hours)
Participants race against time or ideally, co-operatively work together to improve their teamwork skills. For an added challenge, one or more learners are blindfolded or handicapped!

Orienteering (3 hours)
Participants search for hidden tags in the nature reserve, using clues provided on detailed contour maps.

Raft-building (3 hours)
Using minimal equipment, participants are required to build a raft then paddle their entire group to the other side of the dam.

Interpretive trails (2-6 hours)
Learners explore the reserve along well-marked trails under the guidance of their trail leader. Syllabus requirements and school or group requirements are taken into account when planning these. Can be combined with OBE ecosystem studies, e.g. water quality in a stream/river

River adventure walks (3-6 hours)
An adventure hike where learners support each other to depart and arrive at the new destination as a group over difficult terrain. The challenge is to work together in a situation where they all are out of their usual element.

Abseiling (1-3 hours)
Using ropes and other safety devices, learners abseil down a steep rock. This activity supports overcoming fear of heights. A superb sense of achievement is gained for nervous beginners. More experienced participants can attempt sighted and blind-folded rock climbing and abseiling

T.E.A. (3-4 hours)
Taking Environmental Action is a leadership and environmental action activity, in which learners identify environmental issues,
practise using a decision-making exercise to select an issue to tackle, develop an action-taking plan and then carry out their plan.


E.I.A. (3-4 hours)
Learners investigate theoretical aspects of Environmental Impact Assessments and then undertake one in a relevant area in the reserve

Group dynamics (2-8 hours)
These fun and mentally challenging games and activities allow learners to develop better communication strategies and co-operative group work skills in a friendly and safe environment. These are often complemented with other learning opportunities such as Taking Environmental Action.

Making environmentally-friendly things, such as hayboxes, solar cookers etc (2-4 hours)
Practical tasks with an outcome and information is provided as to how these support the notion of living more sustainably.

Nature trail (3-8 hours)
Participants go on trail exploring the natural elements in a relaxed way with a view to gaining a better general knowledge of the land, fauna and flora. Fun activities are done along the way with a view to sharpening the five senses

Adventure walk! (3-8 hours
Participants go on our recognized trails and game paths, usually along a stream or river to gain a more adventurous experience of the bush in a more ‘wild’ setting

Team bonding and leadership walks (3-8 hours)
Participants walk on trail with our staff, learning about nature, with an emphasis on games and activities that bring out the best co-operative team skills in the learners

Map reading, interpretation, compass work (2-4 hours)
1:50 000 maps of the area, compasses and simplified maps are used to assist learners in becoming competent at locating themselves in unfamiliar terrain. A 1-4 hour practical orienteering activity is carried out to consolidate learners’ understanding and abilities of maps and map work.

Urban study in village of Howick (4-8 hours)
This course starts in the nature reserve with an introduction, then departs for a drive in which learners identify zones of a town; it may include a walk through parts of an informal settlement with an opportunity to use questionnaire-based research strategies. Learners provide report-backs to the whole group using a variety of presentations.

Interpreting ecology and sights in the reserve (4-8 hours)
A formal - yet fun - walk on short or long trails, with a view to understanding ecology, usually based on the Grade 10 syllabus. Many practical examples are shown and the course also brings in human influences.........a great variety of alternative themes can focus these walks, such as geomorphology, conservation, human impact on the broad environment, tracking and many others.

Investigative Fieldwork (3 days)
These intensive research courses are ideal for learners from grade 10-12. The investigative process includes developing a research question, data capture, record keeping, analysis of data and writing the first draft report for completion at school. Minimum 3 full days required.

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Night activities for overnight courses:

Night orienteering (4 hours)
Similar to day-time orienteering, with the added challenge of not being able to use physical landmarks to orientate oneself in the dark!

Enviro-meal (5 hours)
Participants plan a meal, go shopping for ingredients in Howick, and then cook and eat their own creation. Meals are judged and points are awarded, based on how environmentally friendly the products and processes are. Useful for environmental, leadership and economics programmes. The activity is usually started during the day and is completed at night after the meal and the ‘enviro-friendly analysis’

Solitaire (2-8 hours)
Same as per daytime, except that the night skies and intimacy of the dark enable a magical sensory experience. Ideal for creative drawing, thinking and writing activities

Bush sleep-out (all night)
Participants are supported with bush knowledge and then make their own shelters using natural or artificial materials that are provided. These solo experiences also tend to benefit from the longer solitaire time

Stalk the lantern (3 hours)
A favourite and old stand-by that all children - and secretly many adults too! - have enjoyed for many generations as they experience a close encounter with nature whilst moving and creeping through the bush!

Night walks (min 3 hours)
These are general trails with or without which focus on the experiential magic of the night

Eco-challenge (3 hours)
A variety of fun activities in challenging conditions, such as cooking a meal over an open fire, making a dessert in the bush, inventing a 7-legged dragon and many more!

This list is a summary of our most commonly requested activities.
We welcome opportunities to develop new ideas with teachers.

Please note that the staff at Umgeni Valley relish the challenge of designing new courses. Please share your 'wish list' with us and together, good learning opportunities will result! We encourage you to make a booking for a few days with us to share good learning opportunities with our staff through fun and adventure!

COMMENTS FROM SOME SCHOOLS

Rodean School for Girls:
"Seeing the girls in a different environment and doing different activities and how well they coped impressed me the most. I feel that I know the girls better as individuals" (Lorraine Riley)

Temple Valley Secondary:
"Very informative - course content in depth - effective teaching strategy - pupils were at liberty to express thoughts - staff were well equipped - trails were adventurous, tiring but enjoyable!".

Drakensberg Secondary:
"Content: Excellent coverage of the syllabus
Method: Guides were able to conduct and control learners very well. Learners enjoyed a good relationship with the staff" (PS Beni)

St Mary's DSG, Kloof:
"The staff are extremely capable leaders and foster a good relationship with the girls, while maintaining control". (Hilary Harris and Anne Immelman).

The Wykeham Collegiate:
"We are extremely impressed with the entire programme. All the guides related well to the pupils. Their knowledge is comprehensive" (Sue Grove).

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