Whale watching workshops - West Coast South Africa |
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In partnership with educators (biologists, scientists and nature guides), Alan Lindner is now offering a series of Junior Whale Spotter Workshops from March to August 2014 in False Bay and at Langebaanweg. The sessions - for groups of 50 people at a time (children aged 7 to 14 and a parent/guardian) – are usually on Saturday mornings from 07:30 for 08:00 to 09:30.
Topics covered include what is a whale/what is a dolphin/what is a killer whale; local whale and dolphin species; the scale of a whale in relationship to elephants and mammoths (this is a link to mathematics and also the West Coast Fossil Park); anatomy, echolocation; feeding grounds; how they feed; migration; mating, calving, nursing; threats to their existence and their defence mechanisms; conservation – think Blue/think Green – litter/waste management.
These orientation topics are followed by whale watching tourism; where to watch on our coastline; a recap on whale and dolphin species most likely to be seen; surface behaviour; what to report including a photograph, how to report; where to find your report on the web site/whale sightings log. At the end of the session, participants “graduate” and are “awarded” their “flukes”. They will be given a Whale Spotter membership card that lists the benefits of being a whale spotter.
The proposed dates for the children workshops at Langebaanweg are:
15 &29 March, 12 & 26 April, 17 & 31 May, 14 & 28 June, 12 & 26 July, 16 & 30 September 2014
Cost: R25 per child / senior; R50 per adult.
Note: Parents are requested to please bring a cellphone.
Curriculum links:
Life Skills, Gr 6 (caring for animals); Natural Sciences & Technology, Gr 5 (reproduction);
Gr 6 (Eco-systems & food webs).
Whale watching hotline: 079 391 2105
For more information contact Alan Lindner on 079 391 2105
or go to www.awhaleofaheritageroute.co.za
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