Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve 



 The Environmental Education Centre (EEC) – 2003.

1. More records broken at the EEC in November. 
Erika reports that the pupil (learners) attendance at the Centre is 2999, at the end of November. This is 812 more than at this time last year. Excellent results dont you think?


The graph illustrates the increase in attendance this year since Erika started working at the Centre.

"Peli can so can you" Competion.
The Peli can competion in the Winter Newsletter 2003, drew 108 entries for the dustbin logo design. Erika says there are some stunning designs from the local primary school children.
The winners of the "Peli can so can you" competition are all from Floreat Primary School;

Shihaam Kruger    grade 7
Doriow Thompson    grade 7
Abraham Salies    grade 7
Sabrina van der Merwe    grade 7
Kirwan Swartz    grade 7

Thanks to Gabriel Shock Absorbers in Retreat, they donated six oil drums for the Competion, to be painted with the childrens designs.

Completed Mural
Above is the recently completed mural painted by Cherry Giljam and Stella Fogarty at the EEC.

Donations
Peter Brown donated a colour TV with video recorder to the Centre which is hugely appreciated for ongoing training, presentations and education.
Mr McKeown donated a small hand-made plant press to the education centre.

                                                 photogragh by Adele
Emmanual Educare (new school) contacted me and asked weather we can sponsor a few plants at the school. So in celebration of Arbor Week I gave a short talk on how plants grow and afterwards the todlers helped me with planting milkwoods, proteas, bietou and aloe plants.
The school ground didn't have one plant on it, there was only rocks and litter. I went back with Gavin Oliver and Glendon Potgieter and planted a bakkie load of sour fig (you won't believe how stunning the grounds are looking now).

                                                                photogragh by Erika
Gavin and Glendon planting sour fig at Emmanual Educare.

We now also have a new environmental club. Levana Environmental Club to join Zerilda. are also planning to do a programme for all special environmental days still to come.

Future activities to come;
15 - 17 October     Weed buster week
20 - 24 October     Marine week
3 - 7 November      Estuary week
24 - 28 November  Birding week

2. The EEC has performed in the year June 2002 to June 2003!!

Erika Foot has been running the Centre this calendar year largely unpaid and funded externally by other Environmental Organisations. She has had a total of 2559 children through day programmes. She has done 150 external presentations and 1752 children have attended external programmes.
This giving a total of 4461 pupils participating in 1 year, its first real year of operation.
This makes it 2nd to Rondevlei, as the most important Nature Reserve EECentre in the Cape Metropolitan Area.

3.  On the 6th February – Celebrating World Wetlands Day with SEEP (Student Environmental Education Programme) in conjunction with the Dept of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.



Click to see the pictures.

4.  January – Erika Foot is going to be working at the Environmental Centre for a few months to help Adele Pretorius find her feet at the Nature Reserve. Last year Erika and Elzette achieved great success. See the results of their work. After the toilet facilities were completed the children could arrive and be catered for in that department.

The Centre has a need for the following donated items;

• A4 and A3 copier paper to make posters

• paper scissors

• poster paints of any description

• paint brushes of all sizes

• paper glue

• any nature magazines or books with pictures

• an old table 150 x 75 cm.