Imagine a place where your children can play safely, without worry or concern. A place where children live in the natural environment and learn to love the natural wonders of the outdoors. Where calls of the wild, become indelibly stamped in their memories. A place where your children can observe and interact with wildlife on a daily basis, where they learn to identify indigenous plants and trees and propagate their seeds. A place where children are included in authentic environmental research projects that contribute to the greater body of scientific knowledge. A place where your children will learn about the many pressures being brought to bear on the natural systems of our planet and where real sustainable living practices are taught. A place where school is fun and interesting and full of exciting things to do and learn. A place where the learning process becomes tangible and thus more meaningful. A place where you or I wish we could have spent our school days.

Southern Cross Schools is a truly unique, value-based, co-educational complex of schools, based on a wildlife estate on the outskirts of Hoedspruit, South Africa. It is a school founded on Christian principles where boys and girls of all faiths are welcomed and respected. Its ethos is entrenched in an environmental code, which serves as its vehicle for instruction. The methodology through which learning is facilitated, is learner-centred and outcomes-based.

Southern Cross is the first nature-based school in South Africa and possibly the world. A school with an environmental philosophy, and a determination to make a difference in ensuring a sustainable planet for our future generations. Based in the Kruger to Canyon Biosphere Region, the school has a strong commitment to the local environment and to community upliftment.

The academic thrust is dynamic, enthusiastic and creative, recognizing the need for an holistic and integrated education for its learners. Educators, where possible and appropriate, use the natural environment as a vehicle to deliver the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS). In addition to this nature-based learning approach, it also applies brain-based learning techniques to ensure that all learners are catered for in the teaching and learning process.

DEVELOPING A NETWORK OF SCHOOLS IN BIOSPHERE REGIONS

Southern Cross Schools finds itself situated in the wonderful Kruger to Canyons (K2C) biosphere region. This magnificent biosphere region includes the Blyde River Canyon and surrounding escarpment mountains in the west and extends east to the Kruger National Park. This internationally designated region is part of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MaB). The main aim of identifying such reserves is to have areas in which a balanced relationship between people and nature on the one hand and development and conservation on the other are promoted. Upward of 500 biosphere regions have been registered worldwide by UNESCO. It is envisaged that communities within these designated areas will ensure that responsible development takes place so that the biodiversity of these areas is maintained and enhanced. The ultimate goal is that sustainable development and utilization of our natural resources will be achieved.

Being a nature-based school that is situated in this exceptional biosphere offers a great many opportunities for the school community as a whole to play an instrumental role in advancing the aims and objectives of the biosphere. The school promotes the objectives of the biosphere through its Reach-a-Cross community partnerships. It also develops networks within the biosphere to ensure that sustainable development is achieved.
Partnerships between like-minded schools in biospheres both nationally, regionally and internationally are also being developed. Visits to Hoedspruit by delegates from the Rhön Biosphere in Germany, have established the first direct links between our biosphere and an overseas biosphere. It is envisaged that this initiative of developing partnerships between schools in biospheres around the world will grow into an “Association of Biosphere Schools”. This envisaged association will encourage the sharing of ideas, information and perhaps even solutions to common problems experienced by members of the association.

It is envisaged that as this Association of Biosphere Schools grows, conferences including delegates from all member schools will be held to exchange ideas and information. Exchange programmes between member schools will also enable learners and educators to broaden their knowledge and understanding of biospheres other than their own.