Boning up on sharks and marine life

AS WE approach the warmer days and the festive season, children were invited to be part of a four-day programme to learn about the ocean and how to protect the marine environment.

The programme was hosted by Shark Spotters for children aged 6 to 12 from the False Bay community.

Education co-ordinator of the programme, Taryn van Neel, said it had four categories to educate children and make the experience exciting.

They were Eco-Friendly Kids, Future Marine Scientist, Junior Shark Spotter and Our Ocean Our Life.

“The activities associated with these themes were adapted to encourage the children not only to learn about marine life but to understand the importance of preserving our marine and coastal ecosystems.

“At Shark Spotters, we began to broaden our scope by promoting educational outreach during the school holidays on Fish Hoek beach and Muizenberg beach. The concept behind the Kids Shark Club holiday programme is to reconnect youth with the outdoor environment, with a focus on learning more about marine life.

“At Shark Spotters, we offer a variety of exciting educational and

team-building courses conveyed through theoretical and practical approaches and methods.

“We introduce the ocean environment by engaging with participants through discussion and experiential learning, with a specific focus on shark conservation and safety.”

Van Neel said they made it fun for children by painting science experiments where they learnt about the diversity of sharks and their behaviour.

“During the day visits, the children were encouraged to interact with their associated outdoor environment on the beach while learning about the marine organisms found along the rocky shore intertidal zones, engaging in science experiments, showcasing their creativity through art and craft activities, and learning more about shark behaviour and shark diversity by teaching them how to be ‘shark smart’ when at the beach,” she added.

Paul Franke, a community activist from Ocean View, took eight children from his area to join the programme.

“It was important for our children to experience ocean life and to become educated about the sea life,” he said. “We also thank our sponsors.”

The City of Cape Town has provided tips to help keep you safe on the beach: Children under age 7 must always be accompanied by an adult.

“Don’t run, push, duck, bomb or play rough. Don’t swim near or under the diving boards, and make sure one person at a time uses the board. Bigger children should not swim in the baby pools.”

If you get into trouble in the water:

Raise your hand and wave.

Try to stay calm as panicking can make you tired and run out of breath.

Try to get to the edge of the pool and hold on.

Don’t grab anyone else.