The Wild Crew – Trees & Grass Plant Ecology

On our recent Wild Crew outing, we took full advantage of the warm weather and spent almost the entire day outdoors on our nature walk. It took some time to reach our planned destination – a ridge on the Egoli Granite Grasslands – because there was simply so much to see and explain. The children embraced the spirit of exploration wholeheartedly, discovering several scorpions, a shongololo, and a variety of new plants and wildflowers beginning to bloom, despite the absence of rain.

Once we arrived at the ridge, the children were divided into groups and tasked with mapping what they observed. They focused particularly on certain plants they had been introduced to, using a key to identify and record each find on their maps.

We returned to base camp later than usual, and food quickly became the top priority. With full tummies and only a little time left, each child was given a seed and something to plant it in, along with instructions on how to care for it at home.

Everyone went home tired, happy, and holding the beginnings of a coral tree. We hope that nurturing this beautiful tree will inspire in them a deeper appreciation for the wonders and miracles of the natural world.