THROUGH the wildlife club that she started in her first year of teaching in 2016, Kim Spencer has been helping scores of children in the Rupununi to learn about the environment and make efforts to preserve it. As she continues her much-needed, practical lessons, the plan is now to build a benab next to the school where she teache, so that she can hold sessions right there for the students.

This will be one of the biggest projects yet for the club, even as the usual research work continues on wild animals and camera traps on the mountain environment near the school.

To date, Kim has dealt with several obstacles that have come in the way of the efficient functioning of her club. She had to leave for college and so lost touch with the students who were initially members of the club. In 2019, when she attempted to resume activities with a new set of students, things were going great, especially since she was also teaching the Environmental Education curriculum for the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS).

But the COVID-19 pandemic came and changed everything. Once again, it seemed as though the club would be going nowhere. Still intent on finding a way to continue her work, though, Kim met with some Grade Nine students in February 2022 and formed a new executive committee for the wildlife club.

“I want to share my knowledge, experience and skills with youths especially to preserve our environment…to take care of the our homes, rivers, mountains…to gives youths opportunities to take up roles in leadership and improve their skills in public speaking, report writing and so forth,” Kim said in an interview recently.

With the 30 students she has at the moment, Kim engages the students in activities such as bird-watching, camera-trapping, club meetings, and nature walks. With the camera-traps session, students are able to have a first-hand grasp of how to set it, record and analyze the relevant data.

“Every Thursday, we have wildlife interactive sessions where we go out into the fields to learn life skills. Learners develop freedom of expression and responsibility; they also practise public speaking. During our field-trip sessions, they are equipped to set camera traps and understand how it works and its importance,” Kim shared.

The students are also exposed to knowledge of the endangered Red Siskin, learning how to monitor and protect them from fires, and being familiar with other common birds in a particular area.

Kim initially started out by using her own money, but as the club progressed, they started raising funds to help. “For our camp-out trips, the students will contribute a sum of money to go on a trip or other forms of contributions such as farine, fruits etc. I now have some support through an award from Conservation International Guyana – but this is linked to another project,” Kim explained.

Two of the projects that the club wants to work on are to create a bird list for the Sand Creek Secondary School and to visit the elderly to have recorded their stories about wildlife, the environment, the community, and history. The club also wants to do craft-making, such as basket-weaving, cotton-, and wood carvings.

“My students reported that they enjoy and appreciate the trips and sessions that happen in the afternoon. I also really enjoy my time with them; we learn and share knowledge together on the environment and culture, as some students know stories from their grandparents and others,” Kim expressed.

The club has been getting support from some experienced persons who assist with building leadership capacity and life skills.

Meanwhile, Kim has been awarded an Amazon Women’s Fellowship by Conservation International Guyana to inspire, empower and build the leadership capacity of young Indigenous females in the Rupununi through conservation.