Wonderful School Trips To Promote Environmental And Conservation Education
This week we welcomed three groups of students to Vipingo Ridge. We had two classes from local international school Kivukoni in Kilifi, and a group of students from Rift Valley in upcountry Kenya.
Educational trips to Vipingo Ridge
We tailor the program to the student age and the ambitions of the school and teachers for the outcomes they are looking for. We also collaborate with local experts and professionals in our team to help share their passion and their knowledge. Our dedicated team are on hand to help to facilitate the sessions as well as lead on exercises and activities agreed with the teachers.
Here are a couple of examples of the activities this week:
Guided Explorer experience
When you have a group of 22 four year olds coming you know you have to be prepared for cuteness (and a bit of chaos). Our team worked with the teachers to prepare a fun set of activities for the group that came to the Ridge to learn about animals.
Based in our relaxed Sundowner space, students began with a briefing and then had an opportunity to make their own binoculars ahead of their safari.
Arts and crafts with recycled local materials, and some colouring in, to personalise their new accessories, the children had an opportunity to try them out before embarking on their safari. The school bus doubled as a safari vehicle as the explorers (armed with their binoculars) headed out to see zebra, eland, oryx and even giraffe. All of these animals live within the Vipingo Ridge development roaming free. Learn more about our reintroduction of wildlife.
Returning to the Sundowner there was time for activity sheets (animal themed of course), a fruit and water snack before tackling the kids adventure playground at Vipingo Ridge.
This is open to children during their stay with adult observation.
Finally, one of our kind homeowners (and parent) offered to treat our guests to pizzas from the wood fired ovens so there was a pizza party before the children returned up the road to school.
2. Oceans Alive beach experience
The second group to join us was also from Kivukoni International School, but this time pupils aged 7. The students were at the Vipingo Ridge Beach Club, learning from the fantastic team from our partner Oceans Alive.
Oceans Alive and the Kuruwitu Marine Reserve is a fantastic project for anyone to visit. You can learn about the effects of climate change on our oceans, the impressive work to restore marine habitats and the details of the methods. This group even had the opportunity to see the results for themselves.
3. Student conservation visit
The third group last week for the visit were a college group from the Rift Valley.
This amazing group of students participated in a beach clear up, supporting a local organisation that gathers and recycles the waste, washing up from the ocean on the Kuruwitu Beach.
Following this great effort the team went on a guided reef walk, Katana (well-known for giving a guided tour of the Coral Workshop to King Charles III) was on hand to educate the students about the work that the coral teams do, and the impact on the habitats, wildlife and the community.
Alongside the ocean based activities, the students also learnt more about the seasonality of the fishing industry in Kuruwitu and the efforts to create balanced diets and sustainable food structures. A visit to the Kitchen Gardens at the Oceans Alive HQ (within the Vipingo Ridge Beach Club grounds) enabled them to see first hand the methods and the women of the community, who play a pivotal role in this important part of the land and sea program.
Experience the Kenya coast and visit educational experiences
We love to share our slice of paradise with the world and welcome visitors to come and experience the conservation projects.
We have a number of different ways we can collaborate. Please contact our events team to start the conversation
