The 2023 Chronicle

CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Staff Member in Charge: Mr Righardt Kotze Chairman: William Brothers Deputy Chairman: Andrew Boettiger

antipoaching patrols and night drives, the boys immersed themselves alongside the research team at the reserve and learned more about what it takes to protect our natural heritage. The programme included the Big Five Walk, an extraordinary experience that was the standout highlight of the trip, guided by Michaelhouse Old Boy Sean Pattrick.

T

he Conservation Society aims to facilitate meaningful, educational conservation programmes, activities and outings for the boys whilst simultaneously benefiting the Michaelhouse Nature Reserve and uplifting local communities. The society works closely with the surrounding community, educating, empowering and inspiring future wildlife ambassadors. During the year the society conducted random game drives and counts in the nature reserve. This coincided with the annual Balgowan Conservancy game count, after which the boys enjoyed a delicious dinner at Caversham Mill and then embarked, with members of the conservancy, to various farms and natural areas around Balgowan. The boys continued with the camera traps initiative, setting up camera traps and going through the footage as often as they were able to. They had some interesting sightings such as wild boar, serval, Cape vulture and Egyptian water mongoose. The major excursion for the club this year was the visit to Nambiti Game Reserve in the first week of the Michaelmas holidays. Nine members of the Michaelhouse Conservation Society headed out to a private game reserve near Ladysmith to participate in a variety of conservation-related activities. From telemetry tracking to animal and bird identification,

The opportunity to give back to the local community was done through a special litter drive and a thrilling soccer match.

The boys enjoyed sleeping in tents underneath the African sky, campfires that kept them warm at night, and rustic but warm hospitality from the team at Wild Connection, who hosted us at the research camp. It was four days jam-packed with adventure and an experience that will live long in the boys’ memories. To end the year two boys from the society spent the first week of the December holidays back at Nambiti to start their Bronze Presidents Award. We are lucky that Wild Connection, which hosts and organises our away trips, has partnered with the organisers of this prestigious award, and there will be more opportunities for our boys to get involved in 2024. There are many things to look forward to in 2024, such as the Zululand and Cape Vidal excursion, as well as outings to Weenen Game Reserve closer to home. The society will continue to engage in projects in the Michaelhouse reserve as well as provide the boys with education and skills that will enrich their lives, benefit local communities and foster a sense of love for nature and the outdoors.

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