OUTDOOR CAMPS THAT EXCITE, ENRICH &

CHANGE THE LIVES OF CAPE TOWN’S CHILDREN

“My son's primary school class had the opportunity to have a Changing

Lives Through Nature experience at the Island Campsite. The kids and

teachers absolutely loved it! Meeting and getting hands-on with

snakes, birds, even eland (lawnmowers) was amazing. Add to this fun

educational games, fun ice breaker games - all expertly guided by your

motivated and knowledgeable team of educators, it was excellent! The

kids were bubbling with excitement and stories from the day. Keep up

the great work!”

Stepping Stones Montessori Dad

“A huge thank you for allowing us to use your Bokbaai campsite. It

was a soul-enriching space for the adults and a growth experience for

our Cubs. What a stunning setting - I can see it will be an amazing

learning experience for all the groups you take on.”

Pack Scouter, 1st Somerset West Cubs

MISSION STATEMENT

The Cape Town Environmental Education Trust was founded in 2001,

with a vision to provide children with the opportunities to experience the

outdoors and in the process develop a curiosity and interest in their

environment.

Our education programmes and camps are designed to

challenge and change the lives of our youth,

and allow them to reconnect with nature.

Today, after hosting over 30 000 children on camps,

our mission remains the same:

Changing Lives Through Nature.

As our lives become increasingly high-tech, children are spending more and

more time indoors and we need to make a concerted effort to

reconnect them with nature.

We need to strive to

build and encourage a nature-loving generation.

This is essential in order to put a stop to the destruction of the natural world

around us - an impossible task without a personal connection, love and

dedication to saving our natural resources.

Group Size

Style Dragon Boating

Obstacle Course

Nature Walks

Reptile Talks

Night Walks

Eland Meet

Sea side

Fire Pit

False Bay 80 Dormitories

Zeekeovlei 40 Dormitories

The Island 40 Platform

Tents

Bokbaai 40 Dome Tents

FACILITIES OVERVIEW

CTEET has been operating two facilities at False Bay Nature Reserve

for the past 12 years,

initially using the Zeekoevlei Environmental Education Centre and later the

False Bay Education Centre. 2016 saw the establishment of two

new and exciting facilities: the Rondevlei Island Camp, and the

Bokbaai Seaside Camp on the West Coast.

Camp length can range from 1 - 5 days, with trained educators running fully

guided programmes for groups of 20 - 80 people. During this time, young people

get in touch with nature and come to understand their role in conserving our

natural heritage. Free of the glare and glitz of city lights and malls, children can gaze

up at the night sky whilst listening for the grunt and splash of a hippopotamus or the

rustle of an otter as it snakes through the reeds.

Here they learn to appreciate nature, each other and themselves.

FALSE BAY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE

The False Bay Education Centre is located between the Strandfontein Birding Area

and the Zeekoevlei Section of the False Bay Nature Reserve.

Our biggest facility boasts an expanse of views across the peaceful Zeekoevlei,

surrounded by flamingos and fynbos - perfect to inspire

any budding nature enthusiasts.

Being adjacent to the Strandfontein Birding Area, this site lends itself to numerous

nature walks, excellent birding opportunities and beautiful night skies.

ZEEKOEVLEI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE

Our original camp facility has had many thousands of children pass through its

doors and the passion for nature and education is felt all around. The Eland of the

Gantouw Project live next door and meeting them is a highlight of any trip.

The calling of the local water-birds invite you out onto the water and tempt you to

try out our dragon boats - a wonderful experience requiring team effort!

Overnight visitors could be lucky enough to be visited by a genet exploring the bushes

or pick up the quiet shuffling of a porcupine.

THE ISLAND CAMPSITE

The Island campsite has recently been renovated and now boasts five

impressive permanent platformed tents on Rondevlei.

As the learners cross the bridge over the water and onto the island, they feel as

though they are entering a new world. The connection to nature is immediate as

you step under the dappled shade of the trees or walk out onto the wooden deck to

breathe in the views across Rondevlei.

If you are lucky – you might even spot or hear one of the resident hippos!

BOKBAAI SEASIDE CAMP

The latest addition to our offerings, Bokbaai is 22km from Melkbosstrand on the

West Coast and offers an incredible seaside experience.

The view across the bay to Table Mountain touches the soul. In springtime the

bush around the tents is carpeted with flowers of many colours and the local

rock-kestrels are always busy nearby.

To fall asleep at night with the sound of the sea and to wake up to the calls of a

francolin is a truly special experience! This is the perfect setting to learn about

marine and strandveld life, splash in the protected bay and

experience a bit of the Cape’s history.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

Our goal is to educate children while making use of the beautiful and important

natural resources we are surrounded by and our programmes are designed to create

an enriching and enlightening outdoor classroom.

We believe that children learn best when they are having fun, so our

programmes deal with educational topics while learners are busy with

interactive activities.

We tailor-make programmes to suit your group’s needs and

can build on CAPS-themes, adding to what has been taught in the classroom by

providing personal experiences with nature.

Other programmes include growing leadership skills,

strengthening team bonds or simply providing

immersive, experiential, natural encounters.

Cape Town has incredible faunal and floral biodiversity, a huge portion of which is

critically endangered. Our mission is to provide programmes which inspire a love for

the environment, hoping that a camp with us will

spark a passion for nature.

EXPERIENTIAL CAMPS

Whether your group wants to learn about

the local fauna and flora, or just enjoy the

peacefulness of the bush, we aim to

create the perfect opportunity to help you

connect to nature.

Our activities are fun and challenging,

bringing groups closer together and

building confidence.

We encourage our youth to put down their

gadgets and get involved in good,

old-fashioned, outdoor fun!

CAPS- BASED PROGRAMMES

We run a variety of programmes linked to

the National Curriculum and designed to

build on what learners are taught in the

classroom.

CAPS themes are covered in fun and

interactive ways, sure to stick in the

learners’ memory once back at school.

Tangible academic outcomes can be

provided such as worksheets for teachers

to take away, or pre- and post-

assessments to test the group’s

knowledge.

LEADERSHIP CAMPS

We design programmes to develop

leadership skills and encourage

personal growth.

Activities such as our

obstacle course tests communication

skills, problem solving, motivation skills

and strengthens group dynamics.

A long hike, inspired by the surrounding

nature improves self-confidence, teaches

individuals their own strengths and the

importance of team work.

CLUBS AND OTHER GROUPS

School Eco-clubs, Hiking Clubs, Scout

Groups, Cubs, Youth Groups and any

groups wanting to experience nature are

welcome to join us.

We aim to tailor-make our programmes

to fit your needs.

We have run Grade 2 Insect Days,

Montessori Nature Explorations,

Scout Camps, Birding

Expeditions and Survivor Sessions!

Whatever your needs - let us host your

group.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Nowhere else in the world is a city faced with the same challenges as we are in

Cape Town. Whilst high levels of urban migration, with its associated challenges of

poverty and social ills, is not isolated to Cape Town - here this is coupled with parallel

efforts to protect the most threatened, endemic vegetation in the world.

This is to be achieved with children who, the world over, are becoming

ever-distanced from nature to the point where it has acquired the term of

“Nature Deficit Disorder”. Furthermore, with a failing education system that sees fewer

than 15% of youth attaining results that will gain them an entrance to university and

having over 50% of our youth unemployed,

destruction of nature is often seen as of little consequence.

We hope to change this view and have developed our crèche-to-career model in order

to help children develop a passion for the natural environment and

mechanisms to focus this interest for them to enter a career in the Green Economy.

Whilst we aim to expose all of Cape Town’s children to our unrivalled biodiversity

unfortunately many children cannot afford to attend one of our life-changing

programmes. As a consequence we direct much of our funds to

subsidise children from struggling communities.

By bringing your school or group on a programme with us, you are helping

us ensure long-term sustainability of our organisation,

allowing us to host and sponsor groups which cannot afford the costs of one of

these programmes.

CHILDREN’S QUOTES

“We liked the obstacle course, because we helped each other and we

worked as a team.”

Daniel, Harmony Primary School

“This camp changed me in many ways. It was a good way to get the

pain out my heart. I am a new person.”

Thembani, WolaNani

“We loved the opportunity to experience nature in such a wonderful

way. We learnt so much about the ocean, and about the stars and

the planets. Thanks for teaching us about leadership and values.”

Grosvenor Primary School Grade 7 Group

“Thank you that I could experience nature with you. I learned new

things. It is peaceful and quiet here and its not like this at home.”

Keenan, Hillview Prayer and Healing Centre

CONTACT US

Bookings Office

Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 4.30pm

Tel: 021 706 8523

Fax: 086 764 1212

Email: bookings@cteet.co.za

Visit us

The Zeekoeivlei Environmental

Education Centre

1 Peninsula Road

Zeekoeivlei

www.ChangingLivesThroughNature.co.za

Facebook: Changing Lives Through Nature NPO No: 013-964 / PBO No: 930 023 924