Highlights from the Western Cape Teachers Biodiversity Network Workshop

On 24 May, the Helderberg Nature Reserve provided a breathtaking backdrop for an engaging and inspiring teacher workshop, themed Biodiversity Network. Our Sustainable Schools’ passionate teachers came together for a day filled with learning, collaboration, and creative exploration of how to bring environmental education to life in the classroom. The day began with a warm welcome and an energising introduction by our valued partner, Cape Leopard Trust, who showcased their innovative Research Box. This hands-on educational tool is designed to help teachers introduce the concept of biodiversity and conservation in an interactive and student-friendly way. Teachers had the opportunity to explore the Cape Leopard Trust’s research box and consider how its resources could be integrated into their own teaching contexts. Naas from the Cape Leopard Trust shared practical examples, demonstrating the diverse ways science and data collection can be made relevant in the classroom, across subjects ranging from Natural Science to Art, and from Foundation Phase through to High School. Teachers also discovered the many ways in which the shared camera trap images could be used as engaging teaching tools in their lessons.

One of the highlights of the day was a short but enriching nature walk, where teachers were taught how to set up a camera trap, a practical skill they can take back to their schools to involve learners in local biodiversity monitoring. The excitement of seeing real tools used in field research helped spark new ideas for how to make lessons more experiential. In the next activity, teachers participated in a collaborative lesson planning session, using their new copy of Cape Leopard Trust’s storybook Footprints in the Fynbos. In groups, they brainstormed innovative lesson ideas, linking biodiversity content to CAPS-aligned curriculum outcomes. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and creativity as ideas were shared and refined. The incredible power of collaboration among these teachers is evident in the creation of a brand-new resource, now available to all educators on the Sustainable Schools Hub. Click to open and download: https://sustainableschools.natureconnect.earth/lesson_plan/storytelling-toolkit-grade-r-11/ The Sustainable Schools team is especially excited to share this as the first teacher workshop–developed activity to be compiled and published on the Hub.

To close the day on a high note, teachers took part in a video challenge. In small teams, they created one-minute video clips on key topics such as the School Environmental Management Plan (SEMP), the importance of environmental policy, and how to make effective use of resources available through the Sustainable Schools Hub. This playful and slightly competitive session revealed unexpected content-creation talents among the teachers. It also offered a platform for inspiration, as the videos will be used to motivate other schools to take action in their own environmental initiatives. The workshop successfully combined professional development with creativity and community-building. Teachers left not only with practical tools and ideas but also with renewed motivation to inspire their learners to care for the natural world.