An EcoTraining course takes commitment, but the reward is worth the effort!
Where the expression “this is not a pony camp” originates precisely is not clear. Studies place it in the German language and used to express that “life isn’t always easy… but deal with it”! From Germany or elsewhere, just a few days into my EcoTraining practical, I remember thinking this expression fits perfectly to studying life in the African bush. It was no pony camp. However, I now look back and honestly confirm: the reward makes up for all the hard work and then some! Here’s how to get that sense of achievement in five easy tips.
1. Find routine
Getting up before dawn every day, two outings (walking or driving) with plenty to learn, fitting in breakfast, a lunch, lectures, bird call rehearsals, the rotation of kitchen duty, filling out assignments, the occasional cleaning of a Land Rover and lots – LOTS – of self-study… At first, an EcoTraining course’s daily tasks seem impossible to complete. After just a few days, however, one word prevails: routine! Once you get well organized, you’ll be surprised how much you can fit in a single day. Have your outfit ready, know exactly where that all-important notebook is stored and – a small gesture goes a long way – offer that morning cup of coffee ready-made to your classmate’s taste. Less time gets spent on the details and more time on the essentials. And that heart-warming smile of the classmate enjoying a perfect brew will also give you energy!
2. Speak your mind
Ask any herd of elephants: being successful in the bush, relies on continuous communication. The steep learning curve on a course can cause stress, and even the smallest mouse quickly grows into an elephant under stress.
But if anything niggles at the back of your mind: simply put it out there. EcoTraining instructors have enormous experience in the bush with all sorts of groups from all over the globe: they will always listen to suggestions and use their expertise to benefit your group. Speaking your mind honestly and openly solves any issue. That’s how loud trumpeting becomes a peaceful rumble of mutual understanding.
3. Enjoy your wins
As with any big task, in an EcoTraining course, you only tackle some things at a time. Grasses, bird calls, ecology facts and other components gradually become part of your knowledge, and there are tests to measure progress as you go. Those tests are called “field observations”, and when we completed our first one, it gave an immense motivation boost. Field-obs are real-life: instructors point out a particular tree, a tuft of grass, an animal’s track or even a live bird call and ask you to name the species, answer a question, or provide exciting facts. Answers go on your private exam sheet and get evaluated afterwards. Just one week in, I was amazed by the knowledge we had already accumulated, and it made me proud. When it happens to you, enjoy that feeling! Try not to mistake a Nyala footprint for an Impala’s, as I did. Never thought I’d already label that a “bad miss” after just one week!
4. Get the basics
Have you ever noticed what makes the best athletes amazing at their sport? Or what makes a world-class musician shine on stage? That’s right: they have spent much time getting the basics right. The voices of Ladysmith Black Mambazo only blend magically because each member has spent countless hours fine-tuning his singing. And Letsile Tebogo only sprinted to Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold medal (wow!) after a lifetime of practising the perfect running technique. The same goes for an EcoTraining course: to truly understand the behaviour of a pride of lions or to know why you see that mighty martial eagle in a particular habitat, it’s crucial to understand the essential building stones of the bush. So, learning about grass, geology, or even the stars may seem tedious. But the more you get the basics, the easier it all becomes and the better a guide you will be! Trust me: people will be impressed when you spot a rhino after instinctively recognizing that red-billed oxpecker’s call in the distance.
5. Feel the magic
The most valuable tip: feel the magic of nature around you! I remember a particularly tough day on my course, with an early rise for kitchen duty, a study session that didn’t go as planned and a general feeling of “why am I doing this?” sneaking into my mind. But that same evening, the African sun set in that oldest of gold. A fiery-necked nightjar provided a soothing soundtrack to find sleep. And the following day, a set of all-fresh leopard footprints graced the sand just centimetres off the entrance of our tent. No matter how tough things get: you’ll also never experience the magic of the bush as intensely as you do on an EcoTraining practical. And what’s more, you’ll immediately identify the track of the mystical cat that walked right by your bed, with nothing but tent mesh in between. Thank you, invisible Karongwe leopard, for making unforgettable memories!
Does Wim’s story sound appealing? Have you fallen in love with the African bush and dream about learning how it all fits together, so you can genuinely enhance all your next safari experiences? Then, the EcoTraining Practical courses are perfect for you! Look at the program on the EcoTraining website and find out which one suits you best.
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Off to a Great Start in a Rewarding Career
In this video, we meet Hayden Cole, who did his Professional Field Guide course and loved being in the bush. His year with EcoTraining has been a great stepping stone in his life. He accomplished what he had wanted to do since childhood, and it also allowed him to start a career where he was happy with what he was doing.
The highlight for Hayden being on the course was undoubtedly the ‘amazing’ people he met, from the EcoTraining Instructors to his fellow students. He believes you can learn something from everyone by being passionate about learning and teaching.
