Future Workshops
After a successful pilot project joining JGI Canada, JGI Uganda and we three independent school teachers, it is time to look forward to 2009. It is clear that there is a great need for environmental education training for Ugandan teachers and that the JGI teacher training workshops are an effective means of providing this.
The Ugandan teachers were really grateful for the opportunity to attend the workshop and receive the new teachers' manuals and posters. Although their huge class sizes and lack of resources will make it challenging to implement some of the ideas / strategies we shared, they are keen to try them out. In a country that has not previously had thematic curriculum, many teachers are now keen to try integrating environmental issues into subjects beyond science and social studies. An important step in building a culture of conservation in youth.
Some of the participants made great suggestions for future workshops. Most notably, they suggested visiting a "model school" during the workshop to witness best environmental practices. Other ideas included more involvement of school principals, longer sessions on facilitation skills so that teachers can train others back in their community, and adding discussion time for determining how to mobilize parents and villagers to join in environmental actions.
JGI Canada will soon be undertaking a selection process for choosing a new team of Canadian teachers to return to Uganda. The 2009 partnership will endeavour to hold workshops in two districts as well as provide support for the Roots and Shoots program. Fundraising will be ongoing throughout the upcoming year. It costs approximately $5000 to provide the transportation, accomodation, and training materials needed for each workshop of 30 teachers.
A sincere thank you to all who supported this pilot project through financial contributions and the donation of needed school supplies and books. The project would not be possible without this strong Canadian support. Thank you to JGI Canada, JGI Uganda, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Wild Frontiers, Gately Inn and the communities of Royal St. George's School, Toronto, University of Toronto School, and Trinity College School, Port Hope.
Emma Roche, Meg O'Mahony, and Alison Elliott
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Birds of Uganda
Birds of Uganda
The day before we left for Africa, I almost put my binoculars back in the cupboard. They were heavy and we’d probably be too busy to use them anyhow I thought. So, when we ended up with the top birder in Uganda as our tour guide of Queen Elizabeth National Park, there was great relief that I had thrown them in at the last minute.
The "Big Five" were nothing compared to the diversity of avian species and the phenomenal plumages, songs, and behaviours that we witnessed. In only 3 days Johnnie Kamugisha, our guide, taught us over 150 species.
Emma loved watching the Black-headed Weavers darting in and out of their hanging nests, feeding their squawking young . She also found us our first Bronzy Sunbird, a member of this neat nectar-drinking family. Meg was the key spotter of the Scaly Francolin, a really funny chicken-like species that runs about the savanna with chicks in tow. It somehow managed to avoid numerous close calls with our Land Rover.
My mission was to see as many of the unusual storks and hawks as possible. The trip did not disappoint. In fact, it blew me away. My new favourite birds include Saddle-billed Stork (top), Spoonbill (centre), Hamarkop, Crowned Hornbill, Augur Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, and the ultimate: the Black and White Tusked Hornbill. The first time one of those flew over us at dusk as we were walking up the hill from JGI to our hotel, I think we all ducked as it’s massive wing beats fanned us and it’s "tusk" disfigured it’s silhouette in the evening sky. This was followed by a breathless cry of "what the heck was that thing?"
One morning, Emma spotted some dark shapes perched on a termite mound a few hundred metres from the track. Nothing was more surprising than to discover a female Veureux's Eagle Owl (bottom). She quickly moved up into a Euphorbia tree. Surprise - she had two young up there. They were fascinating to observe. Even cooler was realizing that they have pink eyelids!!
Uganda is an amazing place, and we were lucky to learn so much more about its diverse array of species through this experience.
The day before we left for Africa, I almost put my binoculars back in the cupboard. They were heavy and we’d probably be too busy to use them anyhow I thought. So, when we ended up with the top birder in Uganda as our tour guide of Queen Elizabeth National Park, there was great relief that I had thrown them in at the last minute.
The "Big Five" were nothing compared to the diversity of avian species and the phenomenal plumages, songs, and behaviours that we witnessed. In only 3 days Johnnie Kamugisha, our guide, taught us over 150 species.
Emma loved watching the Black-headed Weavers darting in and out of their hanging nests, feeding their squawking young . She also found us our first Bronzy Sunbird, a member of this neat nectar-drinking family. Meg was the key spotter of the Scaly Francolin, a really funny chicken-like species that runs about the savanna with chicks in tow. It somehow managed to avoid numerous close calls with our Land Rover.
My mission was to see as many of the unusual storks and hawks as possible. The trip did not disappoint. In fact, it blew me away. My new favourite birds include Saddle-billed Stork (top), Spoonbill (centre), Hamarkop, Crowned Hornbill, Augur Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, and the ultimate: the Black and White Tusked Hornbill. The first time one of those flew over us at dusk as we were walking up the hill from JGI to our hotel, I think we all ducked as it’s massive wing beats fanned us and it’s "tusk" disfigured it’s silhouette in the evening sky. This was followed by a breathless cry of "what the heck was that thing?"
One morning, Emma spotted some dark shapes perched on a termite mound a few hundred metres from the track. Nothing was more surprising than to discover a female Veureux's Eagle Owl (bottom). She quickly moved up into a Euphorbia tree. Surprise - she had two young up there. They were fascinating to observe. Even cooler was realizing that they have pink eyelids!!
Uganda is an amazing place, and we were lucky to learn so much more about its diverse array of species through this experience.
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