The Precious Cornerstone Academy in Nairobi began teaching the Guardians of the Forest Youth Rangers Program to their Youth Rangers Club in August. Precious Cornerstone is a mixed day and boarding school in Ruiru.Their Youth Rangers Club, which is currently running our Guardians of the Forest Youth Rangers Program, is just one of their extra curricular activities, and aims at educating the students on matters of animal welfare and nature conservation. Their instructor, Mary Kabz is inspired to train children and youth, so we can raise a generation that is ready to protect and take care of the environment, animals and wildlife.
Sessions have been very physical and fun, using drama, music and song in the learning. The children were very quick to learn to use the instruments in their sessions. They’ve been litter picking, and placing increased numbers of rubbish bins around their school; making notebooks and eco bricks out of recycled materials, and have then began using their notebooks in later sessions and excursions.
The students were eager to continue during their school break, so were even making eco bricks at home.
Of course, they’ve also been learning the fundamentals of what it means to be a ranger, with sessions on ‘The Role of a Ranger’ and ‘Safety in the Forest’. Very important sessions, as in September they went on the first of their excursions: a visit to Nairobi Safari Walk to spend the day with the rangers there!
The Safari walk is part of Nairobi National Park, alongside the Animal Orphanage, with examples of native wildlife in a setting that mimics their natural environment. The park is home to rare bongo, white rhino and albino zebra as well as big cats, antelopes, primates and 150 species of local trees.
Our Youth Rangers from Precious Cornerstone really made the most of their time with the rangers, learning from them more about the importance of wildlife care and conservation in their local area, and students left the sanctuary with a renewed passion for protecting their environment, and hopefully the start of a rewarding partnership with local rangers!
This is just their first excursion, the next, planned for November will be to the only public animal rescue and shelter in Kenya, so our youth rangers can learn more compassion for animals, and how to care for domestic animals.