When you picture the Laikipia landscape, with its roaming wildlife and rivers weaving through forested hills, it’s easy to see what makes it unique. But beyond the soil and scenery, something even more powerful is quietly taking root in the minds of young learners.
This past quarter, the Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF) has been on a mission: not just to teach, but to inspire a generation of conservation champions. The spirit to learn more is unmistakable. From dusty playgrounds to shaded tree groves, from classrooms filled with chalkboards to games played under acacia trees, the message is spreading, conservation is no longer just science, it is a way of life.
At Brookwell Harmony School, the air buzzed with curiosity as LWF educators introduced students to the ‘Adopt a Tree’ initiative. Guided by Project Officer, Brian Otieno, each child was not just given a sapling; they were asked to choose it, name it, and understand it. “The right tree, at the right place, at the right time,” became more than a slogan; it became a personal pledge. Discussions on indigenous, fruit, ornamental, and exotic trees turned into dreams of shaded schoolyards and cleaner air. As hands dug into the earth, trees found their new home, planted lovingly by eager young conservationists, each one a seed of hope.
Brian Otieno, Project Officer for Conservation Education at Laikipia Wildlife Forum, guides students of Brookwell Harmony Academy during a hands-on tree planting session as part of the “Adopt a Tree” initiative
Meanwhile, the Nexus Dicey game, an innovative tool that blends fun with ecological literacy, brought to life the delicate balance between human choices and ecosystem health. Students giggled, strategized, and gasped as they realized how one bad decision could ripple across entire habitats. The game, led energetically by James Njihia, our Program Assistant, was not just a diversion; it was a revelation.
Nkandone Primary took a different route into nature’s storybook. There, the wonder of wildlife took center stage. Giraffes, monkeys, fish, and lions, some drawn with crayons, others recited from A to Z, filled the classroom as students learned to classify the animal kingdom. The session, tailored to usher in World Giraffe Day, not only boosted their ecological vocabulary but stirred a deep fascination for the creatures they share their home with.
At Daraja Academy, the conversation shifted to something visible yet often ignored…plastic. Partnering with NKCC, LWF’s facilitators opened the eyes of the students to the daily impact of plastic waste, unpacking the “4Rs”: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Refuse. The discussion turned global, touching on the World Environment Day and even the quirky World Monkey Day, painting a vivid picture of interconnectedness. Once again, Nexus Dicey made an appearance, played in teams this time, as students debated and acted out real-world decisions, learning the environmental cost of inaction.
With bold new partnerships in place, LWF is scaling its Conservation Education Program. In collaboration with the Zeitz Foundation, LWF will launch monthly outreach events, art and essay competitions, teacher training sessions, and mentorship programs across eight schools. It’s a fusion of creativity and curriculum, of storytelling and science, aimed at turning ordinary schooldays into unforgettable conservation journeys.
Alongside TonyWild Foundation, the vision expands further, including eco-storytelling, youth-led photo and video campaigns, and on-campus reforestation projects. These efforts are designed not only to inform, but to empower. To give students tools, platforms, and the voice to advocate for the planet in their way.
And through it all, our longtime ally The Laikipian, with the ever-supportive James Ndung’u, continues to bring colour and joy to classrooms through Art 4 Conservation games, reminding us that learning about nature should never be boring; it should be beautiful.
So, as the sun sets behind the hills of Laikipia, we look forward to a new dawn, a future where children do not just learn about conservation, they live it. Every tree planted, every animal drawn, every plastic bottle reused, these are the quiet beginnings of a louder, greener movement.
