EE Friends Meeting
11 June 2008
Two Oceans Aquarium
Minutes
Chairperson: Ally Ashwell
Minutes:
Jo-Anne O’Shea & Ally Ashwell (workshop report)
1.
Welcome from the Aquarium and progress with the frog exhibit
Russell Stevens
Russell Stevens welcomed the group to the Aquarium and showed a short PowerPoint
presentation on the development of a new automated puppet show dealing with the
conservation of frogs in Cape Town. The City of Cape Town is funding this exhibition, which
should be opening in September. It replaces the very successful “Story of Water” puppet
show, which ran for a number of years.
2.
Welcome from the City of Cape Town
Lindie Buirski
Lindie thanked the Two Oceans Aquarium for providing the venue and their hospitality. She
welcomed everybody to the first EE Friends meeting in 18 months and was inspired by the
good turnout. She went on to thank Ally Ashwell and Mary Murphy for all the great work they
have done and continue to do in the realm of EE and their dedication to EE Friends in
particular. As a token of appreciation, Lindie presented Ally with a gift. As Mary was
unfortunately not in attendance, her gift will be delivered at a later date.
3.
Presentation of Frog Conservation in Cape Town
Mark Day
Mark, the City of Cape Town’s extension officer working on the Western Leopard Toad (WLT)
Breeding Project, gave an informative presentation on WLT
Roleen Ellman (SANBI) noted that there should be a working relationship between
organisations that were highlighting the same issues, e.g. SANBI also has a WLT project and
more benefit could be had from co-operation and pooling resources.
Bronwen Foster (Biodiversity Management, City of Cape Town: Rondevlei Nature Reserve)
mentioned that an initiative has been launched in which Secondary school learners would be
involved in mapping the locations of WLT as part of the Urban Nature and GIS Project.
Contact details:
Mark Day:
Roleen Ellman:
Bronwen Foster:
4.
084 738 1130
021 799 8670
021 706 2404
volfire@sanparks.org
ellman@sanbi.org
bronwen.foster@capetown.gov.za
Brief round of introductions
4.1.
Groups / organisations represented:
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Centre for Conservation
Education
Two Oceans Aquarium
SANBI: Gold Fields EE
Centre
UWC EERU
Earth Child Project
IFAW
Working on Fire
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Eco Schools
DWAF Working for Water
City of Cape Town: ERM
Eco Activities
Zandvlei Trust
WWF
EnviroEds
WESSA
1
4.2.
5.
Apologies:
Rodney Leak, Eugene Visagie, Hestelle Melville, Dave Carr, Trevor Farr, Bertie
Lourens, Owen Henderson, Carole Knight, Linda Godfrey, Kevin Winter, Rodney
February, Randall Adriaans, Kevin Newman, Cilla Bromley, Mary Ritchie, Erika
Groothuijzen, Andrew Wheeldon, Ria Briers, Koos Retief, Lewine Walters, Colleen
Meinert, Fadiah Abbas, Kim de Bruin, Xola Mkefe.
EE Friends – Outcomes of the “Way Forward” Workshop
Ally Ashwell
The main goals of the EE Friends group:
o
To enable networking & communication amongst environmental educators
o
To share ideas, information, programmes & resource materials
o
To provide opportunities to learn (knowledge & skills) and be informed
o
To improve coordination of environmental education activities
o
To enable people to participate in decision-making and advocacy
o
To enable members to promote / market their initiatives
Suggested approaches:
5.1.
5.2.
Meeting logistics
o
Members are in favour of the existing model of quarterly meetings taking place
at different venues.
o
Members are welcome to organise additional workshops, movies or field trips
and invite the EE Friends (suggestions: Kirstenbosch, a worm farm, BP Green
Building, Athlone Transfer Centre, sewage works).
o
Afternoon meetings suit most people due to morning school visits; however, we
may try to accommodate one morning / full day meeting per year (e.g. during
school exam times / year end party).
o
Schedule meeting dates at the end of the previous year (e.g. at an “AGM”-type of
meeting); avoid environmental weeks.
o
Allow flexibility of timing / format, depending on the topic / venue.
o
Take the following into account when choosing a venue:
venue size; presentation technology & visibility; acoustics; location (e.g. visit
various parts of Cape Town; avoid the city centre).
o
Consider sustainability issues when arranging refreshments.
Meeting content
o
Balance presentations and networking (both structured & informal).
o
To allow adequate time for informal networking, consider arriving in time for
lunch, bringing food and sharing it with other EE Friends.
o
Introduce people & their projects (both new and established).
o
Have a theme for each meeting, e.g. a common environmental concern. Themes
can be suggested when dates are set.
o
Have a short informative presentation on the theme (local, national and
international information).
o
Showcase members’ programmes / resource materials – e.g. host’s
programmes; new initiatives; projects that relate to the theme, etc.
o
Share ideas and demonstrate innovative educational approaches practically.
o
Explore ways in which EE Friends can work together on projects.
2
5.3.
5.4.
o
Provide opportunities to share issues, needs and challenges, and to provide
support / ideas / input.
o
Enable people to participate actively and give feedback.
o
Don’t assume that everyone understands EE Jargon – make meanings explicit.
o
Reflect on our work in relation to the objectives of the Decade on Education for
Sustainable Development.
E-mail communications
o
Use Blind Carbon Copy when e-mailing.
o
Give e-mails clear subject headings.
o
Circulate notifications, agendas & minutes of meetings by e-mail.
o
Circulate only essential e-mail notifications that relate directly to EE Friends (e.g.
local events, programmes, jobs).
o
A number of electronic distribution lists exist catering for a range of
environmental / social interests. EE Friends will make these addresses available
and members can decide which groups they want to belong to. (See table on
following page.) Please send any other lists to Jo-Anne for circulation.
An EE Friends website
o
Develop an EE Friends website. Content can be provided by EE Friends and
vetted by the Co-ordinator.
o
Website content could include:
o
ƒ
a blog where members can post information on their programmes / materials
/ queries; host electronic events, etc.
ƒ
a blog can accommodate the development of specific e-interest groups
ƒ
a calendar advertising dates of upcoming events / programmes / campaigns
ƒ
a database giving contact details and information about member
organisations (the Environmental Resource Directory exists as an electronic
resource – EE Friends could be a section of this database)
ƒ
link to the C.A.P.E. resource materials database
ƒ
links to members’ websites.
Some groups suggested a newsletter. However, a website would probably fulfil
the need to make information available, without the considerable pressure of
compiling a newsletter.
3
Electronic Environmental Updates
Organisation
Biowatch
e-mail
biowatch@mail.unwembi.co.za
Botanical Society
(Wendy Paisley)
C.A.P.E.
paisley@botanicalsociety.org.za
Enviropaedia
(David Parry-Davies)
Footprints
(Michelle Sholto-Douglas)
Harold Wolpe Memorial Trust
(Vanja Karth)
MTN Sciencentre
info@enviropaedia.com
S.K.E.P.
(Cindy Mathys)
SAFeAGE
mathysc@sanbi.org
SANCOR
(Carmen Visser)
sancor@deat.gov.za
SANE (SA New Economics)
(Vanessa Witbooi)
Share-Net
(Claire Peddie)
Urban Sprout
(Wanda & Glen)
While you were sleeping
(Andreas Spath)
WWF-SA
(Yulin Linklater)
sane@lists.sane.org.za
5.5.
5.6.
info@capeaction.org.za
gsdouglas@worldonline.co.za
wolpetrust@mweb.co.za
info@mtnsciencentre.org.za
safeage@mweb.co.za
sharenet@futurenet.co.za
sprouts@urbansprout.co.za
Andreas_Spath@yahoo.com
ylinklater@wwf.org.za
Information
Information & events relating to biosafety
Wide-ranging info on conservation
events, training & job adverts
Cape
Action
for
People
&
Environment e-newsletter; includes
job adverts
General
environmental
news;
events, products, information
Variety of specialised lists; news,
events, job offers
Regular talks & debates events on
political / social issues
Publicises
events
at
the
Scienecentre; occasional job adverts
Succulent
Karoo
Ecosystem
Programme newsletter
Information, events, advocacy on
bio-safety
Wide-ranging
environmental
updates: events, conferences, job
offers
Occasional talks & articles on New
Economics
Regular updates on EE events,
resources, courses
General environmental news &
green products
Notices about alternative films
Wide-ranging EE & environmental
updates: events, conferences, job
offers
EE Friends Database
o
Make an electronic database available showing who does what.
o
Allow bona fide EE Friends to have access to the database so that they can send out
relevant notices to members.
o
Be conscious of the issue of spam – but don’t use this as an excuse not to make
information available to members.
EE Friends: Informal or Formal?
All groups agreed that EE Friends should remain an informal network.
5.7.
City of Cape Town & EE Friends
o
All the groups expressed their gratitude to the City of Cape Town for taking on the role of
EE Friends co-ordinator.
o
Members recognise that the City is well positioned to support the group, in terms of staff,
access to resources and information, “clout”, and involvement in EE in the area.
o
It was suggested that co-ordination be reviewed on an annual basis.
o
The City / co-ordinator should be open to suggestions from members.
o
“We think Lindie Buirski and her team are the best!”
4
5.8.
5.9.
General comments
o
Fantastic to have EE Friends up and running again!
o
It’s important to keep it going.
o
Having EE Friends will enable us to:
ƒ Keep everyone in the loop regarding EE
ƒ Share new resources and ideas
ƒ Network
ƒ Get ideas from others
ƒ Know more about other organisations – which will give us a broader view of EE and
what can be done in education
o
Walk the talk – e.g. use reusable materials, share transport, etc.
o
Let’s actually experience EE in nature.
o
Invite educators, curriculum advisors & media.
o
Invite people from further away (e.g. rural areas).
General questions
o
How can we bring a more scientific and technological approach to EE?
o
How do you incorporate Arts & Culture into EE?
o
What is the difference between C.A.P.E., EEASA and EE Friends?
o
Where can we access Local Government information (e.g. statistics)?
6.
EE Friends share materials and programmes
6.1.
Update on Eco-Schools
Hettie Gets
900 schools nationwide are involved in Eco-schools. Eco-schools aims at whole school
improvement through teacher capacity building and implementing requirements in the
curriculum. Schools are required to compile a portfolio of evidence on their activities and
these are evaluated annually. Service providers are welcome to register and become EcoCentres. These service providers will be allocated green flag status and use their centres to
support the Eco schools.
For more information, please contact Janice April, the regional coordinator of Eco-Schools at
021 705 98 63 or 084 657 0581 or janiceapril@iafrica.com
6.2.
Eco-Schools Conference
Eureta Rosenberg
Western Cape Eco-Schools will meet to focus on building the relationship between schools,
the WCED and partners. The main aim of this meeting will be for the WCED to report back on
the curriculum update and in so doing to strengthen the curriculum based work relating to the
environment within schools. This mini conference will be held from 10 – 11 July 2008 at
Beaumont Primary School in Somerset West.
For more information, please contact Eureta Rosenberg at 021 788 2238 or 082 844 2746 or
Eureta@worldonline.co.za
6.3.
EEASA
Eureta Rosenberg
The Environmental Education Association of Southern Africa (EEASA) aims to support
environmental education in southern Africa. It endeavours to achieve this by providing
opportunities for the exchange of ideas and opinions on environmental education through its
publications, the annual national conference and workshops as well as the activities of
working groups in the regions.
A suggestion was made that EEASA Western Cape be revived and that a proposal be
submitted to host the 2009 EEASA conference and workshops. This point will be carried over
to the next meeting for discussion.
Please visit the website at www.eeasa.org.za for more information.
5
6.4.
The e-Kapa CD
Ally Ashwell
The e-Kapa CD is an electronic resource targeted at the Senior Phase level and its main focus
is on lowland ecosystems in the City of Cape Town. It is fully interactive and incorporates 10
modules, each categorized into sections with activities.
7.
General
1)
A sponsored adopt-a-spot competition (for primary schools) and a global warming project
competition (for secondary schools) are being rolled out this month. Contact Rodney Leak at
Tel/Fax: 021 797 7564, Mobile: 082 408 8259, leakgr@iafrica.com or
info@environmentalaction.co.za, www.environmentalaction.co.za for details. 2)
Jo-Anne O’Shea
It was suggested that Ally Ashwell and Esmay Swarts run a formal e-Kapa workshop in
conjunction with an EduNet workshop. These workshops will allow for capacity building and
familiarization with some of the available electronic resources currently available.
3)
The 5th World Environmental Education Congress will take place in Montreal from 10 – 14 May
2009. The theme is ‘Earth, our common home” and an invitation has been extended to submit
abstracts. Details can be obtained on the congress website: www.5weec.uqam.ca
4)
The 7th Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) Congress on Education in Botanic
Gardens will take place in Durban from 1-6 November 2009. Details can be obtained on the
congress website: www.ebg2009.org.za
5)
A strategic partnership between The Enviropaedia and Indalo Yethu has been announced.
The partnership focuses on the area of electronic EE resources.
Please visit
www.enviropaedia.com for more information concerning this initiative.
8.
Next meeting and closure
Ally Ashwell
Thursday 25 September 2008
Gold Fields Centre, Kirstenbosch
Focus: Educating about Climate Change
Preliminary agenda for discussion:
13h00-14h00 Bring your own lunch & enjoy some informal networking
14h00
Welcome & Introductions
14h15
Presentation on Climate Change
14h30
Curriculum Activity & Discussion: Gold Fields Centre
15h30
Experiential Activity: Earth Child Project
16h00
Discussion about EEASA 2009 Conference
16h20
Next meeting & thanks
16h30
Closure (Because rush hour won’t be an issue at this venue,
the meeting can close at 16h30.)
6