Mt. Kenya Conservation Forum offers Youth Conservation & Leadership Programs three times in a year- April, August and December. We offer one week, two weeks or a month- long residential programs. Tailor-made, customized programs can be offered any time, any duration on request to suit your group or timings.

 

Target Groups- Young adults

 

About this Program: The program is largely outdoor in nature, combining experiential learning with fun and adventure. This program provides participants’ with knowledge, skills, and motivation necessary to promote conservation of nature. Participants are exposed to team-based conservation work, conservation education, leadership skills, and the development of conservation work skills. The program is challenging and physically demanding, while introducing participants to conservation and outdoor skills that will benefit them for a lifetime. Previous wilderness experience is not required; however participants should be willing and able to work in a physically challenging field environment and get along well with others. To enjoy and complete the program successfully a participant should also maintain a positive attitude throughout. Participants can expect to work long days in the field doing physical work in any kind of weather. Every evening, upon returning to the camp, you will begin another set of activities that include taking a shower, meal preparation and water collection. After dinner activities consist of washing up utensils, tidying camp, debrief of day’s activities, some discussions and briefings about next day’s activities.

 

 The program also prepares you as an effective communicator and an outdoor educator. As part of this program, you will be responsible for teaching your fellow participants a lesson plan of your choosing that will demonstrate your ability as a teacher.

Program Environment: The program takes place in the wilderness zones of Mt. Kenya ecosystem and its surroundings. Due to the remote nature of this program, applicants must be comfortable with extremely limited contact with the outside world.  There will be little or no opportunities for internet access and mail. Mobile phone service will be extremely limited.

Program Duration: One week, Two Weeks, or One Month. Participants can choose between either

Mode of Training/Participation: Participants will spend about 15% of their time in formal conservation and leadership related trainings and 85% of their time participating in hands-on, field based, practical conservation and environmental activities.

 

Program Curriculum

 

Training Modules: The will be structured into two; conservation training modules and leadership training modules.

Conservation Training Modules:  Participants will be introduced to the concepts applied in conservation that is the environment, nature, biodiversity and natural resources. The module also covers conservation of fauna and flora of East Africa with a special emphasis on conservation of wildlife and their habitats in Kenya including the state forests. Other areas covered include; ecological relationships, importance and benefits of conservation with a special focus on Mt. Kenya Ecosystem, distribution of wildlife in Kenya and East Africa, wildlife habitats, mammals and birds of East Africa and Kenya. Other important topics are threats to conservation including poaching, deforestation and encroachment of conservation areas, Human-wildlife Conflicts, Eco-tourism and recreation, impacts of tourism on the environment, community and the economy. Roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders in conservation will be explored. Such stakeholders include local communities, the youth, women, general public, politicians, NGOs, Civil Society, media, institutions of learning, students and the international community.

Environmental issues covered include: Climate Change (with a focus on its effects on nature and the communities, indicators of climate change, causes, mitigation and adaptation), environmental degradation, waste disposal and pollution, water scarcity, resource conflicts, environmental diseases and control.

Wildlife, plants and birds identification skills:  This is field based learning where participants will gain knowledge and such skills as identification of wildlife species, birds and plants. Teaching aids will include guides books, binoculars and cameras.

Leadership Training Modules: will include: Out Door Leadership and Self- Awareness Training.

 

• Out Door Leadership Training: Trainings will include learning outdoor skills such as: Wilderness First Aid, Map Reading, GPS use and application, Group Dynamics, Team Building, Leadership Skills, Setting up Camps and Camping, identifying wild edibles, learning the basics of “Leave No Trace” Principles, wild fires management, Emergency Response skills.

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• Self-Awareness Training: Self-awareness is a deliberate effort of learning to know and build trust in oneself. With a sense of who you are and a vision of the person you want to become, you can then set your own life goals and create a plan for professional or personal development. To grow as an individual and as a leader, the key areas for self-awareness to consider include your personality traits, personal values, habits, emotions, beliefs and the psychological needs that drive your behaviors. Self-awareness means knowing your values, personality, needs, habits, emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and evaluating how they affect how you make your decisions, how you relate with others, how you manage stress, etc. This training course will explore self-awareness in a greater detail and help you evaluate yourself more deeply with a view to addressing your own weaknesses and enhancing your strengths. The training methods will include role play, group discussions, games and practical exercises.

 

Topics covered include:

 

• Life goal setting and  decision making

• Communication skills

• Interpersonal and intrapersonal skills

• Stress Management and problem solving

• Peer counseling and couching

•  Self-esteem- building self esteem, effects of low esteem

• Self-Esteem-Related Problems:

  • Sexual Activity

  • Early and unplanned pregnancy

  •  Teenage pregnancy

  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases including HIV/AIDS

  • Substance Abuse

  • Cigarettes Smoking

  • Alcoholism and illegal drugs

• Self-Actualization

• Developing one’s potential

  • Achieving an awareness of one’s identity, and fulfilling oneself.

Other Participant’s Activities

• Mountain hiking: Mountain hiking expedition will be part of this youth conservation program. Participants have new fun experiences as they hike Mt. Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa. During the hike, you will participate in trail clean up, discover animal tracks, watch breathtaking sceneries from a view point, drink cold natural water from mountain streams, watch wildlife and birds, see beautiful mountain flowers and take countless pictures of this wonderful mountain.

• Learn New Skills:  During the hiking expedition you learn extra outdoor skills like outdoor group meals making, setting up camp fire, back packing, navigation, managing extreme cold weather conditions, learn to overcome high altitude physiological challenges that affect climbers and team building.

• Make New Friends: This program attracts young adventure seekers from diverse cultural backgrounds just like you. This is your opportunity to learn, enjoy and make new friends.

• Engage in Conservation Service Work: Part of this program entails giving back to nature. Participants may be engaged in such activities as  repairing wildlife fences, removing snares set by poachers, water shed and forest restoration (mainly tree planting), river/stream clean ups, environmental clean ups, removing alien and invasive species. 

• Accommodation: Participants’ accommodation will be bush camping in tents and may occasionally sleep in dormitory type of accommodation.

• Food: All food is provided by Mt. Kenya Conservation Forum.  Participants participate in preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day.

• Transport: Participants are responsible for transport to the program site. Transport during the program activities is arranged by Mt. Kenya Conservation Forum.