Snake handling course

Hi all,

Johan Marais author of the book a complete guide to snakes of Southern Africa will be holding another venomous snake handling course at the St Lucia crocodile center on the 9th September.

Any one interested in attending the course or would like to find out more information please contact Johan atjohan@reptileventures.com 

Regards

Spider & Scorpion Course 19th of August

Hi all,

A full day's course in arachnids will be presented by arachnologist Jonathan Leeming on Sunday 19th August at Bonamanzi.
Jonathan is one of South Africa’s foremost experts on scorpions and spiders and author of the book ‘Scorpions of South Africa.'

Also conducting 'Scorpions Adventures', Hoedspruit based Jonathan recently spend time in the area presenting courses and leading field trips, and got to know some of our local eight legged creepy crawlies.
Northern Natal offers a variety of habitats and a high arthropod diversity and is home to high population densities of spiders and scorpions. In some areas of KZN the scorpion population density can be as high as 3 scorpions per square meter!!

This course is ideal for anyone interested in spiders, scorpions, amblypygids and solifugids,
or for those who would like to learn from a leading authority. Everyone is welcome even if you can't tell the difference between a scorpion and a crab.
The course consists of lectures in the morning and hands on practical field work in the afternoon and provides the solid foundations for understanding and identifying Southern African spiders and scorpions.
Handling of spiders and scorpions is not compulsory but provides a very exiting hands on experience.
The course is endorsed by both F.G.A.S.A and the I.Z.S

Cost of the course is R945 per person and includes workbooks. For more information download the pdf brochure on https://dl.dropbox.com/u/25478279/BonamanziCourse_2012_small.pdf or visit Jonathan's website www.scorpions.co.za, or contact him directly Jonathan@scorpions.co.za

FGASA Mentorship Program

FGASA KZN North is proud to announce this region's own mentorship program. Everywhere in South Africa there has always been the need to somehow support those people who would love to be a guide one day, but who don't have the financial means to do a full course. After all, a full 10 week in house training course costs around R30.000, because it will cover all tuition (teacher's salaries), learner materials, food, accommodation, registration, membership and exam fees and a First Aid course.

There are a number of training providers who have taken desperate students in for a course for a reduced fee, or even totally for free. Other options have included letting the learner do it all self study, but having a mentor with whom he/she can meet on a regular basis to ask questions and go over the study material, to optimally prepare the learner for one of the National Exam Sittings.

Past experiences of myself and Bhejane Nature Training has learned us many lessons, and finally now we feel that we have an idea of what is required to make any mentorship successful. Below an outline of criteria:

• The learner must have attained a full matric certificate.
• The learner must be fully literate, and be able to converse without any hassle in English.
• The learner must be passionate about the bush as well as about people, about teaching and about guiding, and not just looking into guiding and a mentorship just for an opportunity 'to find a job'. We have found that it makes no sense to look for any member in a community and offer him a mentorship just so he can get employment. Invariably they have dropped out in the past, simply because they don't have the commitment it takes to work hard in order to get a FGASA qualification. 
• For this reason, the learner must approach a possible member with a request, rather than a mentor 'looking for' a student he can mentor. 
• The learner must pay for his FGASA starter pack (manuals, workbook, registration fee, one year membership fee) him/herself, currently going @ R1035 for Level 1 Nature Guide and R1045 for Level 1 Marine Guide. This to make it an investment of their own as well, spreading the risk of money being wasted evenly over the learner and the mentor. This is also meant to ensure that learner is really committed to achieving this qualification.
• It is then up for the mentor to sponsor additional study books and/or pay for exam sittings (R300) and/or practical assessments (from R500 onwards), and/or the compulsory First Aid course (Prices vary) and the Registration fees with the Dept. Environmental Affairs and Tourism (R240) in order for the learner to become a legal guide.
• The mentor's involvement will mainly be of an academic rather than a financial nature, investing time in helping the learner study, prepare for the exams, and facilitating practical sessions.
• We recommend that the learner and mentor sign a contract or mutual agreement of responsibilities, and a timeframe with deadlines to ensure steady progress of the learner.

We are also proud to announce that the following people have been awarded a mentorship program with myself in conjuction with Bhejane Nature Training.

Agrippa Shange

Simon Mdletshe

Agrippa Shange, Turtle Guide at Bhanga Neck, Kosi Bay has committed to attaining the FGASA Level 1 Marine Guide. He plans to write the theory in March.

Simon Mdletshe, Cook at Munyawaneni Bush Lodge, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park has committed to attaining the FGASA Level 1 Nature Guide. He plans to write the theory in October.

Patrick Mthethwa, FGASA Level 1 Nature Guide at Tembe Elephant Park has committed to attaining the FGASA Level 2 Advanced Nature Guide as well as the FGASA Birding Specialist qualification. He plans to have his practical assessment for the Birding done before June, and the Level 2 theory in October.

Myself and Patrick Mthethwa

All three candidates receive different types of support from us, and we wish them all the best in their endeavours.

Should you want a mentorship, or feel you could be a mentor, please feel free to contact me (nick.vandewiel@gmail.com) or Christa Panos (dpanos@tiscali.co.za) for more information.

Emotional Intelligence workshop

Hi everyone

We are getting a professional Life and Business Coach in January 2012 at Bhejane Nature Training (False Bay, Hluhluwe) to run a 1 day Emotional Intelligence workshop. This is an excellent programme for anyone that regularly deals with guests or staff or want to improve their personal effectiveness and interpersonal relationships. 

Bhejane will cover all additional fees such as the facilitator’s travel, meals and accommodation. You will only pay the individual cost of training.  

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is the ability to be aware of one’s own emotional state and that of others. People with low EQ often struggle with communication. This becomes more evident in an environment where there is no room for miscommunication. In order for a team to function effectively, the channels of communication must be open and allow individuals to express themselves without fear of retaliation or vengeance. Managing one’s own emotions effectively facilitates harmonious interaction with others. This is often because you are more aware of the impact your words and deeds have on others.

Emotional intelligence can also be defined as non-cognitive skills and competencies needed to successfully communicate and interact with people in our daily lives. Emotional intelligence allows you to manage your own and other’s emotions and to guide thinking and actions.

We used to believe that success depended solely on intelligence (IQ - the measure of an individual’s intellectual, analytical, rational and logical abilities.) If you were intellectually superior, the expectation was that you would succeed. This notion has long since changed since the discovery that one’s emotional intelligence (EQ) often plays a larger role than one’s IQ.

We can become more productive and successful at what we do and also help others to be more productive and successful by developing our Emotional Intelligence in the five EQ domains. Emotional Intelligence also helps to decrease conflict; improve relationships and to increase stability, continuity and harmony.

We are looking at having the workshop conducted the 20^th of January 2012.   The company is called Success Factory and the facilitator Elsabe Manning.   You can read more on their website – www.successfactory.co.za 

Their normal rate is R1800 per person, but they are willing to do it for us at R1200 per person.  As stated Bhejane will cover the extras (meals, accommodation and transport for the facilitator)

For more information please email Christa Panos at dpanos@tiscali.co.za or call her on 083-7263826.

Wilderness First Aid Course

Hi all,

We (Bhejane Nature Training, Ehlatini Bush Camp, False Bay) are running a Wilderness First Aid Course next week and have a couple of spaces open if there are any FGASA KZN North members that would like to join. It is conducted by SMART and is recognised by the Dept of Labour. 

Course dates are 8 – 10 November

If anyone wants more info or to join they can just contact me at dpanos@tiscali.co.za

Or phone Jana on 076 6035 868 to book a place.

Prices are R850 (including lunch for all three days but excluding accommodation)

R1250 with accommodation and meals.

Wilderness First Aid Course

Hi all,

We (Bhejane Nature Training, Ehlatini Bush Camp, False Bay) are running a Wilderness First Aid Course next week and have a couple of spaces open if there are any FGASA KZN North members that would like to join. It is conducted by SMART and is recognised by the Dept of Labour. 

Course dates are 11 – 13 October

If anyone wants more info or to join they can just contact me at dpanos@tiscali.co.za

Or phone Jana on 076 6035 868 to book a place.

Prices are R850 (including lunch for all three days but excluding accommodation)

R1250 with accommodation and meals.

KZN North, Firearm, First Aid and ARH Training

Hi everyone

We are running the following First Aid and Fire-arm Training courses over the next two months.

FGASA ARH Training:                      22 - 24 June

SASSETA Firearm Training:           11 – 13 July
Wilderness First Aid:                       26 – 28 July

Please let me know as soon as possible if you would like to book yourself or any of your guides on these courses.

For prices and more information, please contact me.

Kind Regards

Christa Panos

dpanos@tiscali.co.za

Cell: +27 83 726 3826