The School Conservation Course consists of ten modules, which have been created to complement the national school curriculum. Each session focuses on a different topic so children can learn about peat-swamp forests and biodiversity (animal and plant life); threats to the rainforest and the solutions to these threats. This is conservation for children so each module includes experiments, interactive presentations and hands-on activities.
Our environmental education programme is aimed at Grade 5/6 children (9 – 11 years old). This age group has been chosen as their comprehension and language skills are sufficiently developed to understand the course content. Sharing stories about their learning and experiences with family members, including younger siblings and elders, the children themselves extend the reach of our teaching.
Despite living within close proximity to the rainforest, many of the children have never visited these habitats, leading to a disconnection with nature. Through the School Conservation Course children can discover the rainforest, many for the first time. The final module is a field trip to the forest, accompanied by our scientists and research team, giving the children a first-hand, immersive experience of the forest. This provides the opportunity for experiential education and for the children to apply the lessons they have learned in the classroom to the natural world.
We evaluate the School Conservation Course through pre- and post- questionnaires for both children and teachers. We assess whether course participants have understood the concepts and gained new knowledge; whether our objectives are being achieved and if there have been any attitude and/or behavioural changes towards conservation and environmental issues. We use the results of the questionnaires to develop and improve Course content to ensure we are delivering education that will contribute to a sustainable future.
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Borneo Nature Foundation is a non-profit conservation organisation. We work to protect some of the most important areas of tropical rainforest and to safeguard the wildlife, environment and indigenous culture on Borneo.