Grade Seven

Iganyana Bush Camp

KIT LIST

DUFFLE STUFF: (bring to school on Friday)

• rugged duffle bag (soft luggage) for the items below

• 7-8 t-shirts (no inappropriate designs/wording)

• 1 lightweight long-sleeve shirt                                        earth tones, no whites nor bright colours

• 2-3 pairs lightweight cotton pants suitable for hiking in hot weather

• 3-4pairs of shorts (jeans are hot and heavy)

• underwear and socks

• light jacket or windbreaker

• sweatshirt, jersey or light sweater

• lightweight pyjamas, or shorts and t-shirt to sleep in

• personal medication, hygiene items, toiletries

• anti-malaria medications

• bath towel

• 1 plastic garbage bag for dirty clothes

• book to read, playing cards (both optional)

 DAYPACK STUFF: (bring with you on the first day)

• medium-sized, rugged daypack to wear when hiking, for carrying the following items, which you will want to keep handy. Starred (*) items are necessary for all field activities during each day.

• *full plastic water bottle with screw-on top that does not leak. One litre.

• *sunglasses

• *sunscreen

• *sun hat with brim. Earth tone colors. Baseball cap will do.

• *insect repellent

• *bandanna or handkerchief.

• *binoculars (required, make sure you have these)

• camera (optional, highly recommended)

• a few snacks for the first day (only) on the bus (optional).

• walkman for the long bus ride (optional). (Not to be taken outside your huts while at lamp.)

• this list

 WEAR THE FIRST DAY:

• comfortable clothing suitable for travelling.

• tennis shoes (low sole, not platforms, comfortable for bush walking)

• Bring a wallet with a copy of your health insurance card and money (optional) for snack stops on the road.

 DO NOT BRING: Cell phones, pocketknives, tobacco or music players. The Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe strictly prohibits weapons, pets, alcohol or drugs.

Painted Dog Conservation Project

Iganyana Bush Camp

Community Conservation Education Centre

What is Iganyana Bush Camp?

Iganyana Bush Camp is located near the Sikumi Forest area bordering Hwange National Park. The sole purpose of the camp is to educate children about nature conservation principles. The bush camp is a part of a larger complex called the Community Conservation Education Centre (CCEC), founded, built and operated by the Painted Dog Conservation Project, a registered private voluntary organization in Zimbabwe. “Iganyana” is the Sindebele word for the painted hunting dog, or African wild dog, Lycaon pictus, a critically endangered species. Hwange National Park is one of the last refuges of this fascinating and ecologically important species of wildlife.

Who can participate in the bush camp program?

The facility is only available to school groups who participate in the conservation education program.

Local primary schools from communities that border Hwange National Park may be eligible to attend the program for free.  The pilot program of this free three-day experience includes all grade six students from the fourteen primary schools closest to Main Camp. Any other Zimbabwean schools may attend the camp by paying merely the costs of running the camp. International schools are asked to pay a fee great enough to sponsor a local school, thereby allowing the project to expand the free program to new candidate schools. Call the project office for the most current costs.

What do students do at Iganyana Bush Camp?

The educational program emphasizes hands-on experiences directly in wild habitats. Students are rotated through a series of specially designed activities in small groups. Each activity group is assigned to a specially trained professional guide for the length of the stay. Each student is provided with an activity logbook, in which they record their discoveries. Activities in the three-day program include:

o          Teak Woodlands Studies: Through a series of scavenger hunts in the safety of the camp’s Environmental Education Exclosure, students learn about ecological relationships and adaptations for survival in one of the ecosystem’s most interesting natural communities.

o          “Meet the Dogs”: Students meet the orphaned painted dogs in the Painted Dog Rehabilitation Facility and learn about their natural history and the threats to their survival.

o          “Game Drive”: Students learn about wildlife adaptations for survival, through this game drive in Hwange National Park

o          “Tree Hunt”: Students use botanical terms and concepts to find and identify native trees by their characteristics.

o          “Campfire”:  Students sing, play campfire games and learn about traditional conservation ethics of local cultures through role playing.

o          “Video Night”: students watch an entertaining movie about nature.

Paying schools may stay for longer than three days/two nights. Additional activities that may be incorporated into longer programs include night drives, game walks and fun role-playing activities.

How can I find out more about Iganyana Bush Camp?

Visit the project website listed below to see photographs of the bush camp and learn more about the CCEC’s educational programs, as well as the goals and activities of the Painted Dog Conservation Project.

How can I book Iganyana Bush Camp for my school?

Teachers or headmasters should call, write or email the project headquarters using the contact information listed below. Try to make your reservation as far in advance as possible, as almost half of the available slots each year are reserved for schools in the free program.

Painted Dog Conservation P.V.O., P. O. Box 72, Dete, Zimbabwe

Telephone: (018) 710                             International Telephone Number: 263 (18) 710

Email: phdrhq@mweb.co.zw                   Website: painteddogconservation.iinet.net.au

Painted Dog Conservation is a registered private voluntary organization in Zimbabwe

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