Loeriesfontein Learners Take Classroom Learning Into The Field
For Grade 10 and Grade 11 learners from Loeriesfontein High School, a visit to the Nieuwoudtville Botanical Garden turned lessons on biodiversity, ecosystems and conservation into a hands-on learning experience. Known as the “Bulb Capital of the World”, and home to the largest variety and richest concentration of indigenous bulbous plants on Earth, Nieuwoudtville Botanical Garden also exposed learners to environmental fields that could shape their future careers.
“Botanical gardens play a crucial role in allowing learners to experience what they learn from classroom theory in a practical setting. Learners can experience the interconnection between plants and pollinators, understand the complexity of ecosystems and be exposed to biodiversity-related career paths. Instead of relying only on textbook examples, learners get to encounter real-life examples that build a strong foundation for future career considerations,” said Simphiwe Madlala, Garden Manager of the Nieuwoudtville Botanical Garden.
Over the course of two days, 45 Grade 10 and 23 Grade 11 learners participated in a field-based educational excursion designed to complement their Life Sciences and Tourism curriculum. Accompanied by educators and Child and Youth Care Workers, the learners travelled from Loeriesfontein to the botanical garden, where they could observe indigenous plant species, explore ecological relationships and learn about conservation efforts first-hand.
The excursion gave learners an opportunity to engage with concepts that can be difficult to fully understand through textbooks alone. During a 45-minute guided walk led by Nieuwoudtville Botanical Garden Manager, they were introduced to the importance of biodiversity, indigenous plants, ecological balance and environmental conservation.
For the learners, it also provided a glimpse into fields of study and work they may not have considered before, including botany, environmental management, and nature conservation.
The excursion was equally valuable to the teachers, who saw it as an opportunity to link the curriculum to contexts beyond the school grounds.
“This excursion had a significant impact on our learners, as it brought both the tourism industry and the Life Sciences of plants to life in a practical way. Learners could experience firsthand how natural resources are conserved and utilised to promote tourism, while deepening their knowledge of plant diversity, ecosystems and conservation. Opportunities like this help connect classroom learning with the real world, inspire curiosity and open new possibilities for future careers,” said Mr Jantjies, Teacher at Loeriesfontein High School.
Funded by Loeriesfontein and Khobab Wind Farms, the excursion forms part of the wind farms’ broader support for education and youth development in Loeriesfontein. The initiative is aimed at creating opportunities for young people to broaden their knowledge, build confidence and gain exposure to potential fields of study and career pathways.
The support extended beyond the educational experience itself. The wind farms provided transportation and snack packs to enable the learners to participate, with local businesses Gravity’s Trading providing transport services and Stone Yard Trading supplying the snack packs.
“We hope that this experience has inspired learners to consider future career opportunities in conservation, agriculture and other environmental fields, and that they have a greater appreciation for the value of learning beyond the classroom,” said Gwynne Borcherds, Social Programme Manager for Loeriesfontein and Khobab Wind Farms.
