2025 starts with a bang at Dreamcatcher

Students from Paul Smiths College participaying in the PaintUp with Kamamma initiative

A belated happy new year……2025 started with a bang for Dreamcatcher! On the very first day of the year we were delighted to welcome and host sustainability staff and students from Paul Smith’s College Natural Sciences, New York, USA. This is the second group from Paul Smith’s we’ve had the pleasure to host in South Africa, and in collaboration with the college Dreamcatcher designed the itinerary and facilitated the trip. 

As per the ‘Dreamcatcher Way’, throughout the trip we worked with local SME service providers and of course the Dreamcatcher Kamammas. During an exciting and informative programme the ‘Protected Landscapes and Community Sustainability’ class went on Dreamcatcher’s ‘Go Truly Local’ experience. Highlights included learning about:

  • Sustainability projects in the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve including bee keeping initiatives in Franschoek and community projects in Villierdorp
  • Award-winning wine production at Nuy Valley from viticulture estate pruner -and local intern community guide
  • Initiatives to address invasive species and environmental education at Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve at Riversdale
  • Important conservation work done by Wild Rescue including visiting rescued mountain tortoises finding a caring home at Wild Rescue. In a fun challenge the group also helped to remove 400 invasive plants 
  • The cultural significance of Melkhoutfontein where they went on a walkabout learning about local history and engaged the community. The group contributed to our community collaborative ‘PaintUp with Kamamma’ initiative which celebrates the significant cultural history, nature and lifestyle of the people of Melkhoutfontein on the murals of residents’ homes
  • Historical sites in Stilbaai including the ancient shell middens and fish traps – where, besides enjoying the sunny blue skies with a dip into the ocean – the students and tutors contributed to maintaining the fish traps which are 4,000 years old built by the first nation, the KhoeKhoen
  • The Cango Caves, visited the ostrich industry and spotting the ostriches in the fields in Oudtshoorn. The oldest undisputed finds of these birds date from the Miocene of Africa about 20 million years old!
  • The important conservation work at Addo Elephant Reserve – many were encountered on their 3 safaris – with some really close to the vehicle!
  • The group also took in the sites in Cape Town including Table Mountain and Robben Island, and had a humbling experience at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg.

Sharing our work and its legacy, our founder Anthea travelled with the group most of the way. Throughout the trip the group engaged with Dreamcatcher enterprises including CookUp Kamammas Edwina and Rachel whilst staying over at Wild Rescue, collaborating with Kamammas Hendrina, Marie and Chrishene in Melkhoutfontein, and staying at Kamamma Glendyrr’s Island View Homestay in Knysna.

We worked with local SME service providers on logistics – with Saaymans Transport and maverick driver Andries, Tefo Legobate in Johannaesburg, Nathan Bailey at Baileys ZA Tours in Cape Town, our valued group were in safe hands. 

We were delighted to have Bevan and Celine from Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve join our group to visit and participate on our sustainability projects along the way.

At Dreamcatcher we are impressed and inspired by the commitment, knowledge -and mindset of the Paul Smiths college students and their accompanying tutors Melanie and Matthew. The grounding -and knowledge transfer which the college empowers  prepares students for their own futures, the future of the environment and the people who live in and around it, is laudable. With students of this calibre – the environment and communities are in good hands. Well done Paul Smiths College!  

Thanks to everyone who helped make this such a memorable trip. Check out Paul Smith’s College Natural Sciences where staff and students document their daily activities and reflections on the educational trip. We look forward to welcoming you back 😃.

Watch out for posts to come reflecting on our achievements in 2024!

 

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