​One of CCB’s most exciting and impactful activities are our environmental bush camps and educational school talks. In late August, early September and late October, CCB successfully hosted two impactful bush camps and one school activity, aimed at fostering environmental awareness and academic excellence among youth in Botswana.
 
Held at our Tiisano Education Centre between 29 August and 1 September, 40 students from West Hanahai attended our bush camp, alongside their teachers and patrons, for a hands-on learning experience focused on essential environmental concepts. Organized by CCB’s Engagement and Awareness (EAA) team, the camp featured lectures, bush walks, and interactive activities designed to cultivate a new generation of environmentally-conscious individuals.
 
Despite some logistical challenges—such as a last-minute transport issue when the Council pulled out — participants benefitted from engaging with local Indigenous Knowledge (IK) experts and a well-organized schedule. The camp provided valuable lessons on the importance of establishing strong relationships with local transport services and the need for reliable power sources, prompting discussions about future improvements, including the acquisition of additional solar lights. Overall, the camp was deemed a success, highlighting the effectiveness of collaborative planning and the need for continued stakeholder engagement in future initiatives.
 
Just days later, CCB took part in a Form 3 Boot Camp at Tshimologo Junior Secondary School in Tsootsha, addressing 126 students. This educational outreach focused on motivating students toward academic excellence while providing insights into CCB’s work and the fascinating world of cheetahs.
 
Students actively engaged in the presentation, which highlighted the differences between cheetahs and leopards—a topic that intrigued many. The event revealed a significant knowledge gap among students regarding both CCB and cheetah conservation, emphasizing the need for continued outreach.
 
And late in October, our education team was at it again, with a very special bush camp for a group of children from Kgaphamadi Primary School. The school reached out to CCB, requesting a unique learning experience for a group of special-needs students at their school. Upon adapting our bush camp curriculum and activities to meet their needs, CCB hosted 24 students, aged between 7 – 17 and seven teachers for four days of learning and fun in the bush. As part of the adapted schedule for the students, they attended a field trip to the nearby village of D’kar, where they visited the San Museum and Kuru Art Project. An inconvenient heatwave struck during the bush camp, but thanks to the wonderful swimming pool on site, the students were able to cool down between lessons, leaving them reinvigorated for the rest of the day! This is the first time that CCB has delivered a tailor-made bush camp to a group of special needs students and we were thrilled to be able to provide an exciting and fun environmental learning experience for these students. 
 
All three events underscored CCB’s commitment to education and conservation, empowering young people to become stewards of their environment while reinforcing the importance of collaboration and community engagement in all initiatives.

On the evening of 7 November 2024, Cheetah Conservation Botswana celebrated our 20th Anniversary joined by community members and partners who have stood by our side along this journey. The Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Masego Mooketsi, delivered a rousing keynote address in which she further affirmed the ministry's commitment to collaboratively working with conservation NGOs such as CCB. 

After two decades growing as an organisation - both in programme offerings and our staff quotient - we are grateful to have such a strong community supporting us as we enter the next chapter. #onwardswegrow

Video courtesy of Botswana Television.

​Having joined CCB in 2019 to undertake her PhD research, Michelle J. C. Kral has successfully completed and defended her thesis this year after many years of camera trapping, cheetah collaring, farmer engagement, database management, data analysing and seemingly-unending writing. Studying through Wageningen University – a university and research centre in the Netherlands, Michelle’s role as a PhD candidate saw her balancing this scholarly work with being our Conservation Research Coordinator simultaneously. In this role, Michelle exhibited outstanding leadership, guiding the field team and advising on implementation strategies under the guidance of CCB’s Executive Director, Rebecca Klein. 
 
We invite you to watch Michelle’s presentation at Wageningen University and Research Enterprise Video Platform (yuja.com) [https://wur.yuja.com/Library/search/WatchVideo/3912000] to learn more about her PhD research work in Ghanzi that yielded her thesis titled: “Landscapes of Coexistence: Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) behaviour in a livestock-dominated landscape”.
 
Reflecting on her experience, Michelle said: “I am so thankful for everything I have learned and experienced at CCB over the last years. Thanks to CCB, I have been able to expand my knowledge so much - not only related to conservation, but also ecology, community outreach, project management and working with various stakeholders. None of this would have been possible without your support. Thank you for everyone involved over the years!”
 
We are very proud to have had Dr. Kral in our team, and we look forward to all the work she will pursue in the future. 

​As part of our 20th anniversary celebrations, CCB recently hosted two dynamic four-day soccer camps in the villages of Kacgae and West Hanahai. These camps, designed to engage our target communities through fun-filled environmental education, attracted a total of 156 youth and 104 adults, showcasing the potential of sports as a catalyst for conservation awareness.
 
The camps were led by Paul Gibbons, affectionately known as "Gibbo," the founder of Soccer in the Community, a USA-based NGO. With years of experience volunteering with various organizations in Botswana, Gibbo has been instrumental in integrating football with conservation initiatives, including the development of the Coaching for Conservation program run by Wild Entrust. His commitment to using sport as a means of environmental education was evident throughout the camps. He was supported by two dedicated volunteers, Jason Vera and Mac Strong. The camps achieved impressive youth turnout, with participants eagerly engaging in activities led by Gibbo, Jason, Mac and the CCB team.
 
Following the soccer camps, CCB organised an exciting soccer tournament and family fun day in the village of West Hanahai. The tournament - sponsored by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, and supported by donations from Mariette Straus and Kagiso Mokotedi - offered attractive cash prizes for the top three teams across the categories U16 Boys, U16 Girls, Women and Men, further incentivizing participation. The tournament drew good attendance, and visiting teams and spectators from West Hanahai and neighbouring villages stayed to enjoy the matches. Soccer, or should we say football as it is known locally, is Botswana’s most popular sport, and the enthusiasm for the camps and tournament was widespread.  
 
The camps and tournament underscored the potential of leveraging sports to promote conservation education. The participation of locals in soccer activities which were linked to environmental education fostered a deeper connection to environmental issues, while also bringing the community together. CCB looks forward to future events that harness the power of sport to engage communities in conservation efforts, driving awareness and action for our precious wildlife.
 
Thank you to everyone who participated, supported, and contributed to the success of these camps! We are excited to continue this journey of community engagement and environmental stewardship together.