PERFORM BASIC INFRASTRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE IN CONSERVATION AREA

SO 1 - Identify faulty or problematic field infrastructure

AC 1 -  faulty or problematic infrastructure can be a lot of different things on a farm
as well as around the farm .
it can be things like wire that is not in the right shape and can be rusted or broken ,
also the y standers or ground posts that are not painted regularly and are rusted .this can cause breakages .there is also other infrastructural problems around a farm including the wooden post ,tables many more etc .

AC 2 -  an outline is provided of the implications of not carrying out maintenance timeously.

by not carrying out regular maintenance things get older quickly and breaks more easily .than those that are regularly checked and kept in good conditions .

AC 3 - field infrastructure in the area is identified

problems that are spotted must be reported to the supervisor of that area of the workplace and must be fixed as soon as possible after the person spotted the fault or problem ..

AC 4 - work needs to be discussed whether it is capable for the learner to do the work or if there is a manager that knows the job better required to do the work ..if the learner is capable then he or she can go and do the task with help or alone .otherwise the learner can go with a manager/supervisor to see how it is completed etc ..

SO 2 - report maintenance work needed on field infrastructure

AC 1 - written report is given to management where all the details are on
and also what the problem is and what will be needed to handle it . managers have to read through it and approve  or give better solutions or advice
 
AC 2 - management is told immediately if the work is not done or cannot be done
by a learner .so that they can send people to help .also to help the learner with the mistakes made
so that the learner can learn from it and also the correct way to do the work .

SO 3 - carry out basic repair work to field infrastructure

AC 1 -

COLLECT FIELD SPECIMENS AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA

UNIT STANDARD US//252451

When collecting field specimens whether it is flora or fauna .you have to make sure
that the plant animal you want to collect is not protected as well as you need a license to do so..
when collecting fauna like insects there is a few things that you can keep in mind about what you need
like :

1. maps of the area 
2. your canisters or crates for animals
3. plant press (to collect plant samples )
4. gps coordinates
5. formalin (to keep insects preservative )

collecting these things can take  time but if you need the information about certain plants or animals it is worth doing as you get all the details about the animals or plants ..

demonstrate abilities to work together in a team

UNIT STANDARD US //244605

TEAMWORK IN THE WORKPLACE is a good aspect to have when working with a lot of other staff members or with other people ,as if there is no teamwork in the workplace the work will be done in a much slower rate ,as to where it will be when everyone is working together.







as you see teamwork gets the job done more quicker and more efficiently as well ,also when working in a team all of the members in the team gets to do their own part and also each worker brings a different skill to the workplace ..
teams needs to be organized correctly to prevent arguing and fighting between members ..


short description of team
T - TOGETHER
E -EVERYONE
A - ACHIEVES
M - MORE ...

CONSERVATION ETHICS

UNIT STANDARD US//8333

The conservation ethic, is the ethic of resource use , allocation exploitation and protection.

• There are plenty ways to conserve nature whether its biology ,animals , plants or habitat but its always best to think green and ask yourself if it is what you would like your children to know about earth one day. 

 

Conservation ethics  primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its forests, habitats, and biological diversity.
Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to protect the natural world.




also about conservation ethics is that you need to respect each other and the nature .
also demonstrate respect towards other religions and cultures ..

Carry out Harvesting of Fauna Unit Standard - 252455

 Specific Outcome 1

Carry out maintenance checks on equipment used for culling or harvesting:

AC1- Suitable equipment is selected for a particular culling or harvesting operation:

Make sure that you use the right equipment for the type of harvesting method that you chose
for example - game capture ,

1. you can use nets to capture that you place in a long line between trees .where you then chase the animals toward the nets .there will be people that will wait until the animals are in the nets an they will then make sure that they are safe and calm
2. Chemical darting - this is a way where you dart the animal with chemical substances where the animal will be knocked out for a few minutes and then placed safely in the transportation vehicle where he will then be woken up . and be transported to the right place .
3. Boma method - this is a method that you use when you are mass capturing .it is nets that you place in shape of a funnel where a pilot chases the animals through the nets into the transportation stand .

 AC2 - Equipment is checked for evidence of wear and tear:
check if your equipment is in good condition and still usable .also do checks for breakages on the equipment ass well for example -

• holes in the game capturing nets etc.

AC3 - Needed maintenance work is carried out to ensure trouble free service as it applies to the use of  identified equipment:
regular checks on equipment must be done to ensure the quality stays the same and all equipment is in working condition .when not it is necessary to report it ,.,

Specific Outcome 2

Carry out appropriate harvesting procedures 

AC1 - Appropriate harvesting methods is identified and described as it applies to the culling of harvesting  operation.

1. chemical capture - animals are darted and transported away to the specific place 
2. mass capture - capturing by using the boma method where you chase the animals by helicopter and then close nets behind them when they have passed you 

CARRY OUT THE HARVESTING OF FLORA

 Here we went to the dam to go and takeout some of the bullrush as it is getting to much and leaves no space for other water plants to grow ,because of the over growing of the bullrush .while there we had to get into the water and pull the bullrush out and then pack it neatly so that we can take it away if we are finished .we also had safety clothes on for protection like -

• glove 
• gumboots

we had to wear the safety clothing incase of injuries etc. there is a few precautions like  we could get cuts on our feet from sharp things in the water ,as well as cuts from pulling the bullrush bare hands..

EROSION UNIT STANDARD - 252457
Soil Erosion is the removal of top soil through actions like weather conditions like rain,snow or wind,then you also get other natural causes like animals.Erosion is also caused by us humans.

you also get 7 different types of erosion namely 

1. sheet 
2. rill
3. gully
4. overland flow
5. abrasion
6. corrosion
7. hydrolic action .

Erosion can be controlled by doing the following or using the following ways

Branching: Place branches on the area where you want to protect it from animals crossing or eating it.
Active seedling: Seeds from a fast growing indigenous grass can be planted. Their growth points are very close to ground level and they often form stolons and or rhizomes which are good at stabilizing the soil. 
Windbreaks: Natural windbreaks can be planted using indigenous trees and shrubs in areas where erosion by wind is a main factor.

- gully erosion  
A certain amount of erosion is natural and, in fact, healthy for the ecosystem. For example, gravels continuously move downstream in watercourses. Excessive erosion, however, causes serious problems, such as receiving water sedimentation, ecosystem damage and outright loss of soil.



- Sheet erosion 

SSB (accomadation)

Week 2


This week we went to Adriano's house to go and clean his house for his arrival it was a lot of work as we had to clean every little thing and dust off every where .. there was also a few new trees planted in some of the areas near the chalets and we had to go and take pictures of the trees so that we know what they look like and to see the size of the tree also the type ..

We also went to a house that was mainly build with glass   the lady came to us and asked if we could wash the windows for them .so we had to clean around the whole house every window inside and outside
it didn't take that long to complete..
i was sent to one of the chalets were there were a problem with termites that i have to go and take photos of so that we can report it and also fix the problem for guests ..
also worked on my file to get up to date with everything and be found competent in my course 

SSB (accomadation)

 WEEK 1.    4/10/11 - 10/10/11

This is the start of my new course accommodation (ssb) ..this week was really fun and we learned new things here as well ,the first day we were just shown around to see where all of the places are like the

• chemical store room 
• issue store room
• laundry room 
• pakstoor (maintenance)

and we were also told how it works if you want to take something out ,that you have to sign it in and out.

Day 2
this morning we had class and our files was given to us ,the work that we had to do also got explained to us
and what was required from us to be successful in this course we had a chance to learn how the laundry room works and had a chance to work with them and iron a few things with the rollers .

rest of the week
During the rest of the week we helped the staff by giving the the equipment they needed for the day to clean the chalets etc .we i also helped with building a roof  for the golf carts to stand under we also went to the chalets to pick up dirty laundry etc it was fun and we also learned about the different chemicals we get and use ...

Week 2

20/09/2011 - 26/09/2011

This morning i started in the kitchen by preparing all the mise on place for the cold kitchen that
is doing things like

• cutting tomatoes 
• cutting up onions 
• cutting cucumber
• cutting lettuce 

this is the basic things we start with in the kitchen it get used with a sandwich that a guest order and 
it is for a side salad on the plate ..
after that you work either at the hot or cold kitchen where you will make either toasted sandwiches
or you will work in the hot kitchen there you make eggs and bacon etc . for breakfast and all other hot foods are made there..during the week the kitchen is not that busy but then we work with the other chefs and kearn more and learn how to make some thing new ..

21/09/2011
today we also started with the mise on place it is some thing that we do on a daily basis every day
after wards we started to prepare for the function that we were going to do at the KYK NET EKSPO
it is a cheese and wine function that we will be doing .we prepared most of the cheeses and also the
sauces for the bread sticks
today was very busy and i learned how to make bechanel sauce and also biltong fondue which
is a nice starter meal to serve at a party or function .also learned how to make a cheese sauce ..

22/09/2011
Today we cleaned the kitchen by taking the tables in the kitchen out and also the racks etc ..
we had to clean all the dirt and fat of the tables and under the tables . we did that by spraying oven grill
on  all of the equipment and waiting a few minutes before we started scrubbing it with a brush ,it was a difficult task and we got dirty as all the dirt got on us . after the equipment was cleaned we sprayed all of it with sanitizer and wiped it . and took it back into the kitchen ,it took quite a while but we managed .

23/09/2011
This morning we all started to prepare and get all of the equipment ready for the nights functions
as it will be a very busy day and a long day ! the function is at MBIZI and we are going there at 2 to start to set up and cover everything and decorate the place ! when the function started we were busy heating every thing up as they were talking for a long period of time ! when everyone came to dish up it was fun and we talked to the guest ant told them more about what we do and it was busy as there was about 350 people the night was very successful and everyone enjoyed it a lot ...it was a great experience to be at such a function and to see how it works !

24/09/2011
Today we are working at the show at Mbizi at the Sondela stand where we are promoting sondela and telling people more about what is happening here ..while at the stand we where baking pancakes and we also had a warthog on a spit that we give to people that comes past and wants to know more !! it wasn't that busy as we finished early and had the rest of the day of .

25/09/2011
today i am in the hot kitchen making breakfast and making scones and vetkoek etc..
it was quiet in the beginning of the day but later it was very busy as we almost ran out of some of our food but we made more and everything was fine it was nice to work under pressure as it learns you more on how to stay calm and to work quicker under pressure .

26/09/2011
today is welcoming and we are preparing before the time for it as this morning i already started to make pancakes for welcoming that will be at 1 .as we saw that it is better to start early than rather doing it late and getting stuck without pancakes while there are guest waiting .it was a long day

Cheffing

WEEK 1

During my first week at cheffing  i learned a lot of new things that i didn't knew before
things like the type of vegetable cuts you get also the cooking methods that we will use ,and
how to season food and what spices to  use to make food taste better etc.
the types of vegetables cut you get

1. Julienne - Thin matchstick size cuts 1-2 mm thick and 3 cm long 
2. Macedoine - thick diced veggies mm thick (cubes)
3. batonnet - matchstick size but thicker than the julienne for example chips 
4. brunoise - small fine vegetable cuts 3mm x 3mm 
5. chiffonade - finely sliced or chopped for example herbs 
6. Mirepois - rough cut vegetables example carrots ,onions ,cut into mostly squares often used in stock 

Some of the cooking methods

1. Blanching 
2. poaching - gentle cooking process done in water 
3. boiling - cooking of food in rapid boiling water 
4. steaming - cooking of food in hot moist air .also reduce cooking time 
5. frying - quick frying of food with oil ,medium to high heat 
6. roasting - cooking of large joints in dry heat (150 - 175 c )
7. grilling - fast cooking of small tender pieces with little or no oil (220 -250 )done by contact heat 
8. gratinating -food prepared au gratin has a high fat content and is browned on the surface eg : lasagne ,done under a salamander with dry air 
9. baking - cooking of food in dry heat moistened by its ingredients 
10. sauteing - quick frying of food in a pan with little oil 
11. stewing - moist cooking methods for tough meats ,cut into small pieces
12. braising - combination of roasting ans stewing in a brisiere on a stove or oven 
13. Glaceing - same application as braising but used for a white meat only ,done in fat then liquid,                Basting - contains acid  , Glacing - contains sugar 
14. Pot roasting - cooking of poultry in fat medium pot 

It was a really great week and i really learned a lot while working hard as the kitchen was busy !!
enjoying the work given and the things that i learn ...

During the first week we also had a conference that we had to prepare for which was busy
as we were running around all day making food helping each other and trying to learn more and more from the other chefs in the kitchen ,we also helped prepare the food that we could do .good experience in the kitchen ..

CHEFFING

new course - CHEF SKILLS  12/09/2011

today i started my chef course  which is exiting looking forward to it .and to all the things that i am going
to learn. today we are in the training kitchen .making pastry shells an lemon curd tartlets (lemon marang )
it was fun to learn this and is very easy to make .after that we went to the main kitchen to go and help prepare for the function that is happening the following day .

I also learned how the kitchen works and where everything is ,in case i need to find something  
also how the process works and what all the rules are .it was a very fun day and i learned a lot
looking forward to the following 2 weeks of the course.

Food and beverage service

Food and Beverage service WEEK 5 - 7

This 3 weeks was a very hard working 3 weeks of this course as we had 4 conferences that
we had to set up for which was interesting . in this 3 weeks while doing this we learned a lot on how to set up the tables how to prepare all the equipment that is needed an what we will use for it ..
we also learned all the pre-table setup rules .and we were assessed on the tables we did .
we had each had to do 2 tables and was assessed on it .we had to put over linen ,iron the linen and pin the linen in the correct way .we were also marked on how the table looked overall and on everything that wasn't in place .
while setting up for the conferences we have to get thngs ready for the morning like ;

1. all the cups and saucers
2. all the side plates 
3. spoons 
4. sugars ,coffee ,tea bags etc.
5. and all the snacks 

After Cleaning Procedures
this is the procedures we have to follow after the conferences is done and what we have  to do .
this is mainly things like cleaning and packing away all the used items  that is remaining or standing around including the dirty dishes .we have to mop the floors clean all glasses and do all the things for the following day before finishing work

Cheese and Wine Function

we had a cheese and wine function this week ( 31/08/2011 ) and it was very interesting to see how they promote wine at such a function and to see how different things is from a normal functions
and how things get set up on the tables etc..
this 3 weeks was the weeks where we really learned a lot and is things that we would remember on how to
do even though if i haven't done it in a long period of time .

Food and beverage service

4th week in food and beverage services

this week was a tough week as we had to do conference setups and prepare all the equipment for the conferences .we had 3 conferences this week and this was a bit tiring bit the effort was well worth it as all the
conferences was a success .we really learned a lot in this week on how to set up for conferences and what equipment is needed as weel as how to prepare the tables and place everything in correct place etc like

PRE-SERVICE SETUP

• how to set up the tables 
• how to place the linen and to pin it ont the table 
• how the cutlery must be placed on the tables in correct order 
• what needed to be placed first on the table 
• where the glasses mus come 
• what table setup to use etc

during the conferences we also had to change the plates after the guest had eaten and bring out new cups and saucers  ,new knives and forks ,new plates and side plates etc
also fill up their refreshments while they were on their tea break and clean up the inside before the break is over ..conferences is a lot of hard work and you really run up and down the whole time to prepare and keep everything going in the correct way .also learns you a lot .and improves your skills while working at the same time

Food and beverage service

First 3 weeks of Food and beverage service

during our first few days at fnB we were just like followers .following the staff and third year students to see how things work in this part of the establishment and what the rules are .
as well as how all the equipment works like ;

• the coffee machine 
• dishwasher

also other equipment used to make milkshake , cocktails or any other drinks .
The staff then called us and showed us how to make coffees all the different coffees like

• cafe latte 
• cappucino
• hot chocolate 
• Milo
• .decaff coffee
• filter coffee etc 

also had to start to clean the restaurant and wash glasses and tidy up the place this is a basic health and safety
management rule/skill you need to apply in the workplace area ..when cleaning you need to place all the danger boards signs out so that the guest and other staff can see that there are people working there and for example like the caution board - slippery when wet sign board .
the first 2 weeks was just the start of the course as i was doing a certificate course for 9 weeks .and in the first 3 weeks we just learned the basics and learned how to waiter and do all the things that was mentioned above

Spesies care last 2 weeks

last 2 weeks of species care 23/06/2011 - 9/07/2011

the last 2 weeks of species care was also the most amazing week at he course as we kept on learning new things
as we got to slaughter a few animals for meat for the animals .we also did night shift through the whole course
which was a great experience as you learn new things like what to look for and to do your checks and see if all the animals are still fine and safe .
we also did stock take again but only on meat and we had to pack out all the carcasses and cleaned the freezers and count all the meat and them packed it back neatly ,
in the last two weeks we also cleaned the avery where the owls are and we raked it and threw new seeds so that we can grow grass and make the place like it was in the beginning also moved chaos the marsh owl inti another cage that i prepared for him by putting in new plats and giving him cover ton hide in ....
also cleaned the whole inside of the wild life center and re arranging it neatly by  moving the prep tables into the correct places where it is easily usable and not in the way .
we also had to  clean and maintain the outside of the wild life center by moving all poles and bricks and sticks etc that was laying around  into place or by throwing it into the trailer where it has them been taken away ..we cleaned all around Lefty's (serval) cage .
got a new animal in at the wild life center a baby Duiker (antelope )
Species care was my favorite course and i really learned a lot that i didn't know and will always remember it   .it was great working so up close and personal with all the animals and to get to know how to work with them and to handle them correctly..I also learned  very much from OOM SIEG  the manager of the wild life center ! as he taught us a lot about animals as well and stuff like what must be in an enclosure of the animals ,so that we don't put the wrong plants and flowers in the cage and also to make the enclosure as close as possible to the animals natural home /habitat .
IT was a really great course learned very much while i was there ..

Spesies care week 2

19/06/2011 - 23/06/2011

Feeding - went to feed all the animals (fruit) and also the new Hedgehog (buddy) which was a very fun animal to see in that time of age ..as it is still very small and you can handle him very good and look in detail at him and see how he rolls himself into a ball and look at the quils.

cleaned the dishes that was left there after we had done the spot checks in all the animals cages
when washing dishes the sink must have one side filled with hot water and detergent and the other side just normal cold water for rinsing ..
at the end of the day we had the chance to go and sit at the lions and interact more with them and get to know them better and can learn their personalities better .. was very exiting and fun to be with the lions

20/6/2011
 
did meat preparation for all the animals except for the lions and trigger (the cheetah) as they are being skipped this morning and will be fed again in the afternoon .we do this so that the animals doesn't over eat or become sick and to balance out the metabolism of the animals .went to feed the animals an had to feed Lucy and Fur (servals) which is also a bit of struggling you have to keep them apart as well otherwise they will also fight over one bowl .
after lunch we were busy cleaning the boma's  where the captured nyalas was held  and we had to clear all the old grass and disinfect the whole boma for encase we got any new animals in that we need to keep there ..

21/06/2011

this morning i went to do spot checks in the cages to go and see if all the cages are still in good condition and that all  the animals water bowls are still full and that the water is fresh .i also raked up the grass in the cages neatly into heaps sp that the animals can lay in it to keep them warm in the cold  .
this afternoon we had to do stock take of everything in the wild life center like ; all the animals ,all the food sorts, all the maintenance equipment etc it was good to learn of how to keep stock and how to count stock in such place.and it helps to see what has been used and what food products or equipment etc you still have and what you need to replace ..

22/06/2011

had to do food preparation as this was an assessment and they needed to see if i can do it correctly 
then after wards i was learned how to prepare the milk and what supplements we add and how much you add according to the milk quantity in the bottles . there are supplements like ;

• Denkavit calf 
• Denkavit foal 
• esbilac (carnivore milk replacement )
• Biorem
• protexin 

for meat the following supplements are used ;

• Iams 
• predator powder 

it is really great to see this and it is not something you would forget easily
Today we also made a new enclosure for Dobby (the bushbaby) as we had to build him a bigger cage with more space to jump around in and have more fun ! we also had to build him a few toys like a ladder and new climbing places it was AMAZING to see how quickly he adapts in the new cage and how he enjoyed it .

23/06/2011

Today i had the chance to go and do a lion shoot with some guest this is where we go in with the lions and  control the lions and just keep our eyes on them so that they do not do anything wrong like bite or claw the guest .it was another opportunity top interact with them and t learn more about their behavior
Today also gave m yet another great opportunity  to go and capture animals again with oom Sieg
we learned on how to track the animal with a radar after you have darted him also how to follow the radars coordinates ..also learn more about the animal as you are working with them..

wild life center day 2

11 June 2011

This morning we started to prepare the food for the animals that eats in the morning .it is the first  time that we are doing it and it is interesting ,we had to cut meat from bones and had to cut meat  into different size pieces .
because not animals eat the same sizes of meat like ;

• LIONS - eats bigger pieces than the other animals 
• servals - eats the meat cutted up into medium size pieces
• carecols - eats big pieces ,some times half a  chicken
• Cheetah - eats the smallest meat pieces mixed with Iams (concentrated cat pellets ).
• owls - eats different sizes of meat depends on the size of Owl

Some of the other students prepared the fruit and veggies for the animals that eats only fruit and vegetables
.animals like :

• Vervit monkeys - eats fruit like : apples ,oranges,bananas, grapes etc
• squirrel - eats seeds and raisins with yogurt on top 
• rabbits - apples ,grapes and rabbit pellets 

After the feeding of all the animals we had to go and clean all the cages by raking all the grass together cleaning the water bowls taking out old food bowls etc also cleaning the poo of the animals ..

12/06/2011

this morning i prepared the fruit sorts for all the different animals and went to feed the animals that i prepared food for .
after feeding the animals i went to wash the dishes like ; all the dirty bowls,buckets ,knives etc
and cleaning all the used and dirty equipment

 we got in new stock that we had to load off and put in the store room like ; boskos ;mielies and bird seed etc

today we also had class and after that we had a fire meeting where we went to go and check if all fire equipment are still working and what must be replaced etc

13/06/2011

Prepared food for the animals (meat) also went with one of the second years to go and feed the animals .
this morning is going to be the first time that i will be feeding the lions and i am very exiting and i can feel the adrenaline pumping through my body .
when going to feed the lions and they see you coming they start to make a growling type of noise but not an aggressive noise .only making the sound because it is feeding time and they know it because it is kept in a routine ...
when feeding the LIONS you have to do the following -

• 2 persons must go to feed them then ,one locks the lions to the side while the other one quickly go in then right after the one enter the other one enter 
• then when inside the cage do not give the wrong food to the wrong lion ( MAX - gets  bigger pieces than LEX because he eats quicker than she does )
• lock the lion away from each other by calling their names ,one to the right and one to the left (LEX - left and MAX - right ) 
• give the food at the same time other wise they will fight over the food or one bowl
• when they are done take the bowls away other wise they will bite and play with them..

cleaning inside and outside the clinic
we swept and mopped the inside of the clinic also took the old blankets out of the owls cages and placed new ones in the cages ( Dolf the Barn owl )
we also raked and swept outside the clinic to tidy up around the clinic a bit and keep the place neat ..

14/06/2011

This ,morning i prepared the milk for all the different animal that drinks milk like

• giraffes (Peanut and Matilda )
• nyala ( Lilly and Clover )
• blesbuck (Donnie and Clyde )
• also the small servals 

i went to feed the giraffes and all the other animals and it is a really great experience feeding a giraffe milk and seeing how far he bends down just to drink also how long his tung  is and how quickly they can drink 4 liters of milk ..also really seeing how beautiful this animal is up close

toady was one of the most exiting days at the wild life center .. we are going to do animal capturing
and this is another great chance to really learn a lot especially from the people you work with
we went to go and capture ZEBRA ,BLUE WILDEBEEST ..we were doing chemical game capture ( darting) .it was interesting to see how long it takes the chemical to start working on the animals
when the animal stop running and was down we had to place it on a stretcher and keep its head up straight .we also had to Carrie the animals and place it on the transporting vehicle..it was really interesting and i really learned  a lot by doing this animal capture method and i am grateful for the opportunity..WHAT A FUN DAY /.................

• 
  

WILD LIFE CENTER

10 June 2011


Today is the first day of our animal care course and i am really exited about this course .because it is the course that i am most interested in and where i really want to learn a lot .
nature is one of the passions in my life .and i really love working with animals.

in my first day at animal caring we went on a short tour around the wild life center .
one of the second years showed us around and told us a bit more of where everything is and what we need to do where and how .

the first day was just the basics of the wild life center like the hygiene for e.g. washing the dirty bowls and boards etc.the basic knives we use for the different food sorts like .:

• blue and red knives - for fruit and veggies 
• black and yellow knives - meat sorts and chicken.

also how the scale works and how to weigh the different food items for the animals ,and different boards we use to cut on  like :

• Red board - meat 
• blue board - fish 
• green - veggies and fruit 
• white - veggies and fruit 
• yellow - chicken

during the first day at the wild life center we mainly observed the work on what the second years do and how we are going to do it ..and what we are going to do everyday like ;

• Cleaning the animals cages 
• feeding the different animals 
• checking the water sources etc 
• cleaning inside the center and outside the center
• doing maintenance in the wild life center and much more

In the afternoon Lauren   came to give us our animal behavior lesson of all the animals and that was very interesting and learned a lot about it .

LIONS - she told us to be careful and not to taunt them at the start and at all . she told us a few things to look out for in a lions behavior like :

1. look at how the eyes change when they are stalking you 
2. they pull back their ears when about to charge at you 
3. not to bent down directly in front of them as we will be seen as prey .
4. when stalking they will be very quiet and will try to take advantage if you do not concentrate and keep your eyes on them 

Carecol (rooikat) -

1. do not bend in front of them 
2. they will hiss at you when they are uncomfortable
3. do not corner them or they will attack

Serval (tierbos kat) -

1. will hiss and strike with the paw if feeling threatened 
2. do not corner give space to move freely 

Owls -

1. will  make a clapping sound  when threatened 
2. will puff up ,make them self appear larger 

and there was still a lot more  as we went to every animal in the wild life center and was told on how they behave and what to look for in a animal like ; if the animal is sick ,or injured , or is acting strangely .and any other unusual behavior .

Today was a very interesting day .i really learned a lot and it was only the first day i have been there i am really looking forward to all the coming days i will be working here ..

final days of week 3

this week was really interesting and  we learned a lot  about different things and also learned things that we didn't know like

• amphibians
• reptiles
• geology

 we learned what the difference between frogs and toads are what animals there is  under the reptile class
and we discussed geology ..we also did slide shows about the animals ,

its also interisting to see what classes there is of the animals and what the order of them are !!

site guide week 3

day 2

today we went into the bush to go and search for different insects .and we also went on a walking trail
to search for insects .also learned that insects has 3 body parts and that
there is 3 different groups that they fell under namely

• coleoptera
• hemioptera
• ortoptera

 it was interisting to learn all of the things about insects and whats the ecological roll of them is ..

site guide week 3

Day 1

today we did scorpions and spiders (arachnids) we discussed all of the basic things of scorpions like how to tell when they are poisoness  and what the difference between them is and also the different type of scorpions like -

• Bark scorpion
• Sand dwelling scorpion
• Thick tail scorpion
• Whip tail scorpion

we also learned where these scorpions could be found and what will happen if you get stinged by these scorpions  and the type of venom they have

SPIDERS - we also did spiders and also discussed the same things on them like their habitat, food ,venom
the differences between them ,and also what will happen if you get bitten by them and what type off pain you will feel ...like - feeling dissy,nauseous, headache etc.. the different spiders we discussed was

• black button spider
• crab spider
• sack spider
• violin spider

site guide week 2

17/05/2011 - 20/05/2011
day 1

This week we were discussing trees in the area that we are  in and also around us.i learned a lot about trees this week and also how to tell the difference between them and fruits that they carry and what they can be used for like -

• medicinal uses
• rituals 
• cultural and spiritual

it is really good to learn new things as it will help in the future  and so you can also tell the things you learn to others .
This week was a god working week and we achieved a lot .I also learned a lot of things i didn't know about trees and plants and grass its nice to get new knowledge.. 

Site guide (game drives)

site guiding is really great and you learn a lot from doing things in the bush and getting to know your trees ,grass,insects and birds .You also learn how to do game drives and how to talk to the guests on the drive and what you have to say on the drive about all the different things and all the animals that you encounter while on the drive ... here at Sondela we have a lot off different animals to see while you are on the drive like :

• 11 Buck species -like 

1. Nyala
2. impala
3. kudu 
4. eland 
5. red hartebeest 
6. duiker
7. gems buck
8. water buck
9. blou wilde beest
10. bless buck
11. steenbuck

We also have other animals like

• Warthog
• giraffe
• zebra
• black back jackal
• carecol (rooi kat)
• serval (tier bos kat)
• aardwolf
• aardvark 
• porcupine

it is a very interesting to see all of the animals and you learn a lot also by looking at the animals closer !!
it is really great to learn all the things about the environment and all off the other things .. and it is nice to do game drives  with a lot of different people because each time that you go with other people you learn more and it is getting easier the more you do it ..every drive also has its own good and bad things and you cannot always see everything that you want to see !and you have to deal with different types off guests ..

Site guide Day 3

12 May 2011

This morning i went on a  one and a half hour walking trail with one of the guides at Sondela
it was a really nice walking trail and i really learned a lot from the guide like the different types of trees -

• sekelbos,
• deer mekaar bos 
• acia tree - umbrella thorn tree (hak en steek boom)
• buffalo thorn (blink blaar wag n bietjie )
• scented pod (lekker ryk peel)

different types of spoor like

• porcupine 
• aardvark
• kudu
• Zebra
• carecol (rooikat) 

and also dung from a few animals ..it was a great hiking trail and learn a lot from the guide !!
also learned new things about the aardvark and how he gets its food,and how deep he can dig ...it was nice to go on the trail and learn new things

Site guide day 2

11 May 2011

this morning we went  to class to already do the following topic Birds
It was very interesting to learn all about the different birds and the bill shapes
and the habitat of all the birds..and where the bird are mostly from like - what region or province etc..We also had to do a slide show on birds that we know best .we
had to choose 5 birds and talk about them !...i learned a lot of things about birds i didn't know 
We also wrote a test on birds the following day !!

Site guide

10 May 2011

The first day of our site guide course begins today , and i am looking forward to learning new things.
This morning we went to do a virtual game drive ( Practice game drive ) at the academy where we had to choose a few animals and talk about them like you  were on a real game drive and tell all the interesting facts you know  of the animals !!..after that we went to class to learn more about mammals and things like - they're habitat
and the food they eat ,is it a browser or a graser . we also wrote a test the following day on mammals

wild life center ( Slag )

8 April 2011

This morning we went to put out mineral blocks at the different places like the springbok flats and the makhato area and ssb  where it needed to be placed
we also took amipor and poured it into the Duncan applicators ..after lunch we went to the wild life center to

 go and do some slaughtering of two animals that was sick and one that was already dead and had a broken leg....  it was a nice experience to see how to slaughter and to have a chance to do it yourself .we also had to cut all of the meat of the bones ..so that they can feed the smaller animals

Resource Gaurdianship

WEEK 1 - 21 February - 24 February 2011

21/02/11
This is the starting week of our resource guardianship course.Today we went to fix a fence that has broken near the caravan park,and also put in new Y-standers in between the fence ,Sieg then came and helped us and he also learned us a lot about the different  types of fences and different types of wire like :

• Bush veld fence
• Bonox fence
• Binding wire
• Steel wire

We also worked with new equipment such as a Wire puller  and gripples .

22/02/11
We needed to go to the 400 hector ground behind the wild life center to go and repair some of the fences that is hanging and that have snapped..we also painted the poles  that the wires are tied to .this prevents the poles from further rusting and breaking..

23/02/11

this morning we were told that we are going to go and fix fence .so we thought it will be just a few wires .but when we got there the whole fence was down and the Y-Standers and droppers was broken..Sieg came and told us what the cause was for the wire being broken so bad ,and pulled out of the ground .It was giraffes that walked through and over the fence.They wrecked the whole fence.it happened near the Louis Erasmus farm and also near Siegs farm.
We used a wire puller to pull the fence closer to each other and then by using a gripple we connected the wire to each other ..we also used a 90 degree method which is where you take a wire puller and pull the wire closer then take the broken wire and just place a new wire next to it .by then holding it with  pliers and turning the two points in a 90 degree direction one point upwards and the other one downwards. after this is done you take the wire puller off and the fence would be tight enough and strong enough again..

24/02/11

this morning we were just in the python class .busy discussing our unit standards and then unpacking them .to see what we will have to do in the unit standards and what we are going to learn..
like fencing methods example:

• 90 degree method
• gripple method
• binding wire to the droppers etc.

First Aid level 1

31 January 2011 to 4 February 2011

We started with our first aid level 1 training on the 31st of January .The first day and a half we only did theoretical work. Where we learned  all the basics of first aid and how to treat certain types of wounds
like :

• Snake bites
• Fractions
• Different types of cuts
• Burn wounds
• Obstacle treatment (ring doughnut)

If you get by the scene ,there are a few key things that you must look out for like :

1. Hazards - search the area for any surrounding dangers and obstructions.
2. Hello     - greet the person,see if he is conscious or not and ask how you can assist him
3. Help      - ask a person standing there to call an ambulance for help

After you checked if the person is okay or the person is unconscious,you can do the following to try
and help the patient.

• Air wave - Check if there is something stuck in the persons throat or mouth and try to get it out .
• Breathing - Check if the person is breathing and if he is,check that it is normal
• Circulation - Check that the persons blood flow is correct and is pumping enough blood threw.
• Severe bleeding - Check if the person has any severe bleeding wounds and treat immediately .

The First Aid Level 1 course was very interesting and we learned a lot by listening   to the facilitators
 and just by looking at what they do and how they do it .
We  also learned how to treat patients that is choking ,by using the Heimlich manuver,and
patients that has drown,

It was a fun and enjoyable course,we learned a lot but also joked a lot abot some of the stuff
but it is a serious course where decisions can save a life or loose a life .its the risk you have to take by yourself.

First weekend on duty

 11 February 2011
Friday
My first weekend on duty was very nice ,the Friday i was at welcoming at reception
and started at 13 ; 00 and did welcoming until 18 :00 . it was OK ,not as bad as i actually
thought it was going to be .

Saturday
Saturday  i was sent  to work at  food and beverage ,it was quite boring because it wasn't busy at all .
and we just looked what the staff was doing and learned how to do a few things.
But it became busy later on,and we had a few things to keep us busy with like:

• cleaning the tables after people have eaten 
• taking the dirty plates and cutlery's to the kitchen 
• also taking the peoples orders to them

 Sunday
I started at 07 : 30  it was the day i was looking forward to,getting the chance to work at the
WILD LIFE CENTER  and meet all of the staff that is working there.
We learned where to put the different meals of the animals ,and where the milk,and meat table is .
We prepared the  different type of animal food that we where going to feed them and placed
them into the assorted bowls ,and milk bottles.I also played with PORKY the baby Warthog.
we watched  how the staff was feeding the lions and the carecols (rooikat).
we fed the following animals

• CLOVER  - The NYALA
• PEANUT  - The GIRAFFE

 We then went with one of  the staff members to clean all the cages like:

• the Servel (tierbos katte)
• The Carecol's cage (Rooi katte) 
• The Avory 
• The Owls
• Mongoose 

It was very fun to work at the WILD LIFE CENTER ,and I will be looking forward to be
working there again..And i want to learn more and more every time that i am there or in any
other section that im working in.

W.O.P. Course

 24 January 2011

That's the first day that we started with our W.O.P. course and went to class .
We started the day by first introducing yourself  to one and another and then
the staff and your course leader. And every day we just started to learn more about
Sondela academy and all of Sondela's history ,and how it started and how it was established
to become one of  the top nature reserve's in South Africa.