The Wilderness Leadership School, based at the Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve in Yellowwood Park, Durban, will host an information morning for its January 2018 intake for the Nature Guide Training Course (FGASA Level 1) this month.
The school, founded by conservationist Dr Ian Player in 1952, who together with his friend and mentor Magqubu Ntombela, recognised the necessity for people to connect with the environment.
“Long before ecology had become a vogue catch-word, (the school) foresaw the urgent need for a large body of well-informed, conservation-oriented leaders, capable of and dedicated to the defence of the planet’s irreplaceable natural resources,” said Cherryl Curry, chief executive of the school, in a statement on Monday.
The school provides opportunities for trailists from around the globe to experience real wilderness, which in turns helps to instill a sense of appreciation for the needs and laws of the natural environment, as well as a meaningful personal growth experience.
"But besides the various trails, the school understands the constant and urgent need for more passionate people to become qualified nature guides to continue educating and exposing people to the importance of conserving our natural heritage."
The training is offered for a period of three months and students are able to live at the school’s accommodation in the reserve, or off the school premises.
The course includes theory and practical sessions in Tembe Elephant Park, as well as a first aid training course.
“We do not just want to train guides, we want to train exceptional guides, guides with unparalleled understanding of our planet and her ecosystems, guides that can interpret the magic of a butterfly opening its wings with as much enthusiasm as the magnificence of a herd of elephants crossing a river.”
The information morning for prospective students takes place at the Wilderness Leadership School, on Saturday, November 18 from 10am to 12 noon. Contact [email protected] to book a seat, or for more information. Details of the school’s activities can be found on their website.