October 11, 2004
By Ndaba Dlamini
DELTA Environmental Centre, situated within the leafy environs of Delta Park, offers visitors not just a tranquil atmosphere but also environmental education programmes that cater for interest groups ranging from six-year-olds to tertiary level students.
The centre is about 10km north of the city's CBD.
Part-time environmental education officers take children from the ages of six to 13 on a tour of the environmental centre grounds, where they explore the interesting world of insects. Part and parcel of the programme is a "Plants for life" session, where participants learn about the importance of indigenous plants in the preservation of the ecosystem.
A bird sanctuary in one of the two Delta Park dams provides fascinating viewing of a variety of bird species. According to the centre's administrator Vivian Legodi, over 250 species of birds have been recorded in the park.
"High school learners get to know about the behaviour and role of birds in the environment and their adaptations. They are also given hands-on knowledge about how to manage all natural resources to ensure sustainability and understanding the causes and effects of pollution."
Diana Steward is one of the environmental officers conducting tours for pre-schoolers and primary school children. "It's quite an experience to take the children around the park and see the wonder and amazement when they spot the birds and insects. They are a delight to teach."
Delta Park, one of the remaining green areas in Johannesburg, is owned by Johannesburg City Parks, which is responsible for maintenance.
The resource centre within the Delta Environmental Centre building offers books, videos, magazines, posters and newspaper cuttings about the environment for "reference purposes" and any visitor who wishes to access the resource centre is free to do so, says Legodi.
Delta Park was originally a wastewater treatment plant. The park's founder, Norman Bloom, leased the plant from the Johannesburg City Council in 1975 and the centre was registered as a Section 21 company as the South Africa Nature Conservation Centre. The centre changed its name to Delta Conservation Centre in 1992.
The centre's museum, auditorium and offices are located in the former main works building of the sewage plant. The main building, despite changes to the interior, is still intact and displays its original grandeur, Legodi says.
A tour of the centre's museum is one of the popular items on the programme. The museum has natural history and environmental exhibits, the most stunning of which is a large suspended fig tree on display at the heart of the museum. The tree is four metres high and its exposed roots extend 2,5 metres below floor level.
Some of the cleverly constructed displays deal with the creepy crawly lives of spiders and scorpions in the ecosystem. Yet another details a wide range of products derived from trees and how they benefit the environment.
"Schools have to book in advance to be incorporated within the centre's daily programme. In a day we may have two or more schools coming in including students from universities and technikons. One-and-a half-hour sessions cost R11 and three-hour sessions cost R22 per learner. There are no charges for teachers who accompany children," explains Legodi.
The centre offers practical workshops for Rand Afrikaans University students pursuing the Further Diploma in Environmental Education Course and a certificate course offered by Rhodes University. "Many colleges arrange for their students to visit the centre during their training so that they are exposed to a variety of environmental education methods and approaches and to encourage them to return with their learners when they commence their teaching career," says Legodi.
The centre's Water Wise Education Team offers a number of interesting activities sponsored by Rand Water. Activities range from puppet shows depicting wise ways to conserve water to tips about growing a beautiful water-saving garden. A water-wise garden was established to offer a practical example of how to use water wisely in the garden.
Disabled visitors are catered for in the sensory trail, where they access the aspects of nature involving texture, aroma and shape. "The purpose of the trail is to inspire not only disabled learners but also the able-bodied to be aware of their senses and what is taking place in their environment," says Legodi.
For more information on bookings and the Delta Environmental Centre, contact Louise Matschfe on 011 888 4831 or e-mail louise@deltaenviro.org.za.
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