The Young Biologist course was held over the October school holidays and generously sponsored by De Beers Marine, allowing 50 ocean-minded Grade 10s to learn all about our fascinating underwater world! Let's take a look at what they got up.

The candidates had an informative five days at the Two Oceans Aquarium. They learned the skills we usually teach to our volunteers, and got to act as presenters at the Microscope and Touch Pool Exhibits. On the first day, the candidates got to meet the teachers and assistants that would be involved, as well as being told what to expect from the course. To get to know each other, they did an icebreaker activity, which was a good way to start things off!

We asked learners to write a pre-assessment to demonstrate their prior knowledge before the course commenced. At the end of the course, we did this again to see how much they'd learned. This was compared to a final assessment at the end of the course, which showed an improvement from 48% to 83.2%!

In addition to understanding the theoretical concepts of biology, the students were also provided with practical lessons to ensure an effective learning experience. Presentation skills were taught so that the students would be prepared to be competent guides at the Aquarium. To test their skills, the students had to work in their groups to collect information about an assigned exhibit area or facility and present the findings to the teachers and the rest of the class. The students were also taken to Mouille Point beach, where they were taught the scientific method. Furthermore, a boat cruise around Table Bay and a visit to the Coastal Park landfill site were organized, so the students could observe an environment rarely seen. Nevertheless, the most enjoyable part of the course for many of the students was the fun and educational camp!

Upon arriving at camp, students had some free time to get to know each other and the educators. The first activity was a night rock pooling session, which was a big hit - the students were surprised at the abundance of active animals. To end the night, they took a stroll through the penguin boardwalk and were amazed at the sight and sound of the penguins' calls. This sparked a lively debate session about conservation, and everyone had a blast!

The students had an exhilarating snorkelling adventure, many of which were experiencing it for the first time. The more experienced students guided the beginners, creating a great team atmosphere. It was incredibly rewarding for the educators to witness the new biologists recognize the plants and animals that they had only just learned about earlier in the week.

Learners continued to grow their knowledge through engaging and educational activities such as a beach cleanup trial, obstacle course, and camp concert. They all provided unique ways to learn and teach! As a culminating experience, the students were challenged to put their new-found knowledge into action by creating an environmental awareness program for their peers, planning an environmental project, and volunteering at the Aquarium as presenters or assistants.

After arriving at camp, the students were given the chance to become acquainted with their peers and instructors. To kick off their stay, they went on a night rock pooling excursion and were amazed by the prevalence of living creatures. To conclude the evening, they took a walk through the penguin boardwalk and were entranced by the sounds of the penguins' calls. This prompted an animated conversation about conservation and everyone had an incredible time!