The
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Why The |
Why
do a qualification through the
The
The
The
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Our Merit Categories |
The
In
order to enable prospective employers to select the best equipped guides, the
Green Category: This category recognises the fact that the candidate is environmentally sensitive and responsible, and fully qualified at the entry level.
Learners who have been awarded this category: (Apply for this category by sending us the completed application form)
Tiger's
Eye Category:
The Tiger's Eye is a gem unique to
Learners who have been awarded this category: (Apply for this category by sending us the completed application form)
Platinum Category: In the same sense as our platinum deposits are resources of international importance, the platinum category acknowledges a level of skill that deserves international recognition. The candidate complies with the following:
Learners who have been awarded this category: (Apply for this category by sending us the completed application form)
Contact us if you think you comply with any of these categories. |
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Policy & Vision |
In
a world where education and training is increasingly disrupted by ill
discipline, poor administratition, violence and substance abuse, The Nature
College is taking a firm stance for good societal values. The
Please note that in terms of these values and our policy, we will suspend any learner found guilty of violence and use of drugs. |
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Accreditations |
The
Assessment & Moderation Policy and Procedure Our Training and Assessment Policy and Procedures comply with the standards and procedures set by SAQA. Find out more about our policy.
Advisory Panel
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Training Schedule |
Course Dates: o Introductory Tracking
Course 11 - 18 Oct 2009 @ R4161 incl VAT
o Trails Guide 8 - 14 Nov
2009 @ R4161 incl VAT
o Introductory Nature
Guide Course 10 - 24 Jan 2010 @ R7410
incl VAT o Advanced Nature Guide
Course 7 - 18 Feb 2010 @ R6099 incl VAT
o Introductory Nature
Guide Course 14 - 28 March 2010 @ R8151
incl VAT o Introductory Tracking
Course 11-18 Apr 2010 @ R4577 incl VAT
o VPDA Course Phalaborwa
16 - 21 May 2010 @ R4012 incl VAT
o Introductory Nature
Guide Course 16-30 May 2010 @ R8151
incl VAT o Trails Guide Course 9 - 15 Jun 2010 @ R4577 incl VAT o VPDA Course Phalaborwa
25 - 30 July 2010 @ R4012 incl VAT
o Advanced Nature Guide
Course 8 - 19 Aug 2010 @ R6708 incl VAT
o VPDA Course Phalaborwa
23 - 28 Aug 2010 @ R4012
incl VAT o Introductory Nature
Guide Course 12 - 26 Sept 2010 @ R8151
incl VAT o Introductory Tracking
Course 10 - 17 Oct 2010 @ R4577 incl VAT o Anti-Poaching Patrolman
17-27 Oct 2010 @ R6000 incl VAT o Trails Guide Course 7 - 13 Nov 2010 @ R4577 incl VAT |
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Training Centre |
Courses are presented at The Aardvark Centre for Nature Studies, situated in the Aardvark Nature Reserve.
While resident at the training centre, student participation is expected in housekeeping and preparation of meals. This is aimed at building experience towards managing a guiding operation such as a bush camp or overlanding safari.
Meals are simple and aimed at being healthy and nutritious. Breakfast consists of cereals and
toast. A typical lunch could consist
of cold meats, salads and bread. In
the evening students will prepare a cooked meal, e.g. a potjiekos, oven roast
with vegetables or a braai with pap and gravy. If students want fancy trimmings with their
meals, they must provide this themselves.
Students are taught to be creative and innovative, simulating conditions found in a bush camp or on an overlanding safari. |
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Development Programme for Nature Guides |
Development Programme for Nature Guides
The reality is that very few establishments are willing to appoint a nature guide with no experience. Our Development Programme bridges this gap by training learners in the relevant skills as well as creating the opportunity to gain the necessary experience to enter the market as a qualified Nature Guide. The
Development Programme Six month training phase living at the premises of The Nature College. During this phase the candidates will attend (amongst others) a total of five SAQA registered guide courses, namely:
Training in guiding skills is supplemented by a basic course in archaeology, with extensive training and experience in bush camp management and overlanding safaris. Study tours will be conducted to five South African Biomes, enabling learners to obtain area competence to these regions. During this period learners will also be exposed to a structured programme of practical wildlife training under guidance of a full-time facilitator, and will receive credits for six practical wildlife management competencies. Six months internship at a game lodge. Successful learners are placed at top game lodges for a period of six months to gain practical experience. The lodges will supply free accommodation and meals. |
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Field Ranger Training |
Field
Ranger Training The
old Certificate qualification 20415 has now lapsed and has been replaced by
the new qualification 59389. The
1. Phase 1
Training (one week) plus at least 3 months practical These programmes are aimed at qualifying the learner for the THETA National Certificate in Conservation Guardianship 59389. Find out more about the content and the process.
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Anti-Poaching Training |
The program for Defensive Anti-poaching units is
based on a three tier system, each building on the previous level in order to
ensure that the correct training is in place to ensure the most effective
team on the ground. This system is also designed to create a clearly
defined career path for candidates entering this field. As the program is
expanded in the future, this will create a clear set of targets for
candidates to strive to and reach in their careers. · Patrolman Actual staff on the ground conducting day-to-day anti-poaching
activities. Their tasks would include, but not be limited to the following:
Fence patrols, wildlife monitoring, removal of snares, collecting of
information etc. · Patrol Leader
On the ground and in charge of a patrol unit. His tasks are the same
as those of other team members, but is expanded to include: Rifle handling,
dealing with potentially dangerous animals, securing a crime scene etc. · Operations Coordinator In charge of a number of anti-poaching units. All information from the
units are collected and correlated. An action plan is designed on how to deal
with these situations and acted upon. Tasks include: conducting threat
assessments, planning road blocks, correlate and analyze information etc.
Patrolman Course Programme Arrive 17 Oct 2010 Day One & Two (18&19 Oct) · 252452 Perform conservation
guardianship Day Three (20 Oct) · 252456 Identify and monitor
wildlife Day Four (21 Oct) · 252462 Orientate, navigate, use
and create maps in conservation areas Day Five (22 Oct) · 110064 Contribute to health,
safety and security in the workplace · 11505 Identify, handle and
diffuse security related conflicts Day Six to Ten (23- 27 Oct) · 8460 Track animals and identify
using easily recognizable spoor (strong focus on human tracking,
counter-tracking techniques etc) Depart 28 Oct Course fee – R6000
(VAT incl) |
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Nature Guide Training
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Nature Guide
Training Johan Fourie (National nature Guide L4, SKS Dangerous Game - THETA registered Skills Assessor & Moderator & Advanced Trainer) is in charge of the training programme, which is based on his publication An Introduction to Nature Guiding. He has been training Field Guides in the National Parks and surrounding communities for 7 years. The training programmes are strengthened by the inputs of a variety of experts, such as Dr Izak Rust (co-author of An Introduction to Nature Guiding), Trevor Dearlove, Dr John Almond (co-author of Advanced Nature Guiding), Danie Lourens and JJ Minye (Senior Tracker). Our full-time Introductory Field Guide courses will be run from January, March, May and Sept 2009. The course fee includes rustic accommodation and meals, as well as the prescribed handbook. The course prepares you and assesses you for the THETA National Qualification TGSP2, Site Guide (Nature) Level 2. Obtain your registration form here. Dates and venue of the next course: · Introductory Nature Guide Course 16-30 May 2010 @R8151 incl VAT
The course fees do not include the cost of a First Aid Course or DEAT registration fees.
We also run Short Courses for Corporate
Clients (e.g. Game Lodges and Tour Operators). Please contact us for more information. |
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Our Advanced Field Guide Course is aimed at guides wanting to graduate to the higher levels of guiding, and students will be assessed for the THETA Skills Programme Nature Site Guide Level 4. The course content will be based on the new publication The Nature Guide, which is a combination of An Introduction to Nature Guiding and The Nature Guide. The course fee is R6099 (incl VAT) per person. Obtain your registration form here. Dates and venue of next course: · Advanced Nature Guide Course 8-19 Aug 2010 @ R6708 incl VAT |
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Field Guide courses can also be run in situ, on request of a corporate client. In such cases the course content and presentation can be tailored to suit the client. |
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Tracking Courses |
Tracking
Courses
1. Principles of tracking 2. Observing signs in nature 3. Identifying signs in the veld 4. Interpreting signs 5. Systematic tracking (following a spoor) 6. Formal assessment for FGASA and THETA qualifications Dates and venue of next course:
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Equestrian Guide Course |
Learners are assessed at the end of the training period. The course is offered on request. The course fee of R6500 (excl VAT=R910) includes accommodation, meals and course manual. The course content complies with the Unit Standard for Equestrian Guides which is currently being registered by THETA. |
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Training for Horse Owners / Horse Lovers Over a 6-week
period, we will teach you how to ride a
horse, care for it and train it on your own. Come and stay on our nature reserve where
we work with game and domestic animals such as sheep, ostriches and
cattle. Get away from it all and out of the city, relax and enjoy the tranquility of the farm life and nature
around you while you learn. During your 6-week stay with us, we will
cover the following topics: · How to ride · Horse care · Stable care & cleaning · Feeding · Basic first aid & veterinary care · How to school your own horse · Tack & equipment · Working on the farm with horses · Patrolling on horseback, game monitoring etc. |
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Dangerous Animals Training |
The Trails Guide Course run by The Nature College
has evolved over the last couple of years to give learners a very sound basis
from which to gain experience with dangerous animals and to deal safely and
effectively with such animals. We have developed simulation training to a fine art,
where we can guide a learner into developing his/her skills up to a point
where they can be introduced to dangerous animals for actual interactions and
live approaches. The course covers all the theory relating to the syllabus for the Trails Guide qualification, and learners will be assessed on the SAQA Unit Standards 8459 (View Potentially Dangerous Animals - VPDA), 117705 (Demonstrate knowledge of the Firearms Control Act 2000) and 119651 (Handle and use a manually operated rifle or carbine ). Shooting exercizes will comply with the appropriate level of the Advanced Weapons Handling qualification. Candidates will be exposed to extensive practical and theoretical experience. Our VPDA
component consists of three elements: 1. Immediate Action
Drills for confrontations with Dangerous Animals (simulations). 2. Mentored
Approaches on Dangerous Animals (live approaches). 3. Field Skills,
including spoor observation, rifle safety & alertness. Learners have to achieve the minimum credits on all three elements before qualifying. The course is presented by Johan Fourie. The dates and venue of the next course :
The course fee of R4161 (incl VAT) includes accommodation, meals and the prescribed handbook Animal Alert! - You and the big ones. The course fee does not include the cost of ammunition. Candidates must bring their own rifles. |
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VPDA Course Our
VPDA Course consists of 5 days of training and evaluation and is
presented at the
The dates and venue of next course:
The cost of R4012 (incl VAT) includes camping accommodation and simple meals at the training venue and practical assessment. The prescribed handbook Animal Alert! – you and the big ones is included in the price. The price excludes transport, registration fees with DEAT, as well as First Aid Training (compulsory elements for legal registration as a Field Guide).
· The SAQA Unit Standard 8459 (VPDA) is added to an existing guide qualification · You also need a valid rifle proficiency qualificaton from SASSETA (e.g. 119561 and 117705 - Firearms Control Act and Handle a Manually Operated Rifle, or 10750 – Use of a rifle) and pass the Advanced Rifle Handling Test · You must meet the practical requirements (Simulated Approaches, Mentored Approaches & Field Skills - achieve required number of credits) · All of this will qualify you for the THETA Skills Programme 0030/0037 (Site Guide Nature Dangerous Animals Areas Level 2 or Level 4) |
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Educational Aids |
In our team we have years of accumulated experience in the field of Environmental Education and Ecological Interpretation. During this period we have developed numerous educational and interpretive aids such as leaflets, brochures, guide books and study guides. Some examples are An Introduction to Nature Guiding, best-selling study guide for Field Guides, Namib Rest Camp - Ecological Guide for Visitors, The Nature Guide, Animal Alert! - you and the big ones etc. We have developed several interpretive trails for hikers and 4X4 vehicles. Educational and interpretive aids include amongst others interpretive brochures, booklets or audio cassettes, depending on the needs of the client, Activity Programmes for Kids at Lodges etc. Johan Fourie heads up the team, with Trevor Dearlove as specialist assistant. |
Contact us
Further details can be
obtained from Johan Fourie at:
· · 082 920 3765 (mobile)
· · (028) 551 2562 (t)
· · 086 608 9640 (f)
· · E-Mail us