The Great Outdoors

Sunrise on the Savannah by RaeKenya Walker

6am wake up calls and stretches reaching up to the morning sky.

Half awake, a small still voice echoes in my mind.

"You are chosen, for this moment, for this purpose"

As we reach the top of the hill,

Warm tears stain my frozen cheeks as I stare in awe.

I can feel God's love in the warmth of the sun

Joy does not come in the morning.

Grand rising from the badimo, the ancestors awake to help make dreams reality and to reveal past wisdom.

Oranges and yellows paint the backdrop of acacias that open like umbrellas to welcome the day.

Dust covered shoes and clear quartz guide our path to full hearts and renewed spirits.

So much hope lives in sunrises.

As long as the sun rises over the savannah, I have hope.

Hope for a better me, a better day, a better world.

Naturally, our Wildlife Conservation focused program involves plenty of time in the great outdoors (go nna kwa ntle). Students have not only been admirers of the ecosystems around them (watching the sunrise was a spectacle and the daily game drives to class are a favorite), but they have truly immersed themselves in their surroundings and taken an active role in conservation efforts. Through a geo hunt nature activity, camping, and stargazing students learned about the role of various flora and fauna in the biodiversity of Botswana geography. More so, Mokolodi staff shared information on indigenous knowledge systems and their effect on the relationships between humans and nature and conservation. Various trees and bushes can be used as toothbrushes, toilet paper, and healing ointments, and can be used to tie dye, spread/transfer fire or put out a fire. This vegetation can also indicate the presence of water, the level of biodiversity in the area, and the general health of the wildlife. The stars are used to indicate changing seasons and agriculture and land management. Beyond their learning and observation, students participated in conservation efforts to combat bush encroachment within the Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Students cut up small trees and branches and distributed them throughout an area that has lost a lot of ground vegetation; the branches will further erosion due to water and wind and foster seed germination, as the branches will block the movement of dirt and seeds. These efforts counteract biodiversity loss in certain areas of the reserve. Students have enjoyed the experiential learning activities and the opportunity to not only learn but to take part in conservation efforts.

The following prayer is posted outside of the Mokolodi Educational Center and encapsulates the relationship between humans and the Earth.

Earth Prayer

My hand is one with the Earth.

Wanting the seed to grow, my mind is one with the light.

Hoeing the crop, my hands are one with the rain.

Having cared for the plants, my mind is one with the air.

Hungry and trusting, my mind is one with the Earth.

Eating the fruit, my body is one with the Earth.

Written by Wendell Berry - Chosen by Gloria Silvera