To those who have not experienced kayaking or the coastal wetlands of Abu Dhabi it is a difficult task to explain the enormous benefits of taking students out of the classroom, out of their normal environment, out of their comfort zone and showing them the reality of these unique eco systems. This document attempts to explain, in writing, some of the tours, adventures and projects that schools have, and are, undertaking with their students. To see photographs of Noukhada Education please view our Facebook page where the most current projects are followed.
Noukhada educational program sessions outline
| Session
|
Duration | Kayaking | Mangrove discovering | |
| Pre session briefing
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1-2 hours | Indoor presentation at school to prepare customers (teachers and children) prior to the kayaking session. This includes a visual presentation and demo and Q/A session | Intro to mangrove eco-system | |
| Introduction to kayaking
|
1 hour | Basic paddling instructions and practice (in the water) to prepare customers (teachers and children) prior to the subsequence kayaking session. This includes a safety paddle brief, practical demo and practice.
|
NA | |
| Mini Mangrove tour
|
1.5 hours | Reduced distance paddling if weather conditions and skills do not allow full distance paddling
Basic safety requirements Paddle without assistance Work as a team |
Paddling in the mangrove eco-system | |
| Normal Mangrove tour | 1.5 hours | Paddling for 1.5 hours
Basic safety requirements Paddle without assistance Work as a team |
Paddling in the mangrove eco-system | |
| Mangrove inquiry | 2 hours | Paddling for 1 hour in a double kayak.
Basic safety requirements. Paddle without assistance. Work as a team. |
Short intro to mangroves.
Survey mature or pioneer mangroves using target methodology and upload data and photos on tablets. |
|
| Eco tour | 5 Point Eco Tour | 2 hours | Paddling for 1.5 hours
Outdoor lessons 0.5 hour at 5 stop points
Basic safety requirements Paddle without assistance Work as a team |
Guided intro to the mangrove eco-system. We can adapt the tour according to school requirements such as adaptation, food web, water resources…
Learning observations skills
|
| 2 posters | 2 hours | Paddling for 1.5 hours
Outdoor lessons 0.5 hour at 2 stop points with informative posters and handouts
Basic safety requirements Paddle without assistance Work as a team |
Guided intro to the mangrove eco-system
Learning observations |
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| Bespoke Eco Tour | 2.5 hours | Custom made | Custom made, may include:
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| Eco Tour at school | 2 hours | No kayaking involved | A classroom presentation about the mangrove eco-system
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| Kayak orienteering
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2 hours | Navigating themselves visually between orienteering markers, where they have to answer questions
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Questions can be based on:
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| Day without walls | can be 1 or 5 days | Non residential kayaking activities over 4 hours each day period based on almost every activity that Noukhada can offer
A unique and fun outdoor experience |
Mangrove eco-system activities can be woven into this period, well suited for week without walls. | |
Abu Dhabi based French school, Lycée Louis Massignon. We visited the school beforehand to explain about kayaking and the Eco Tour and then two classes CE2, 8 years old came out on the Eco Tour (conducted in French).
Abu Dhabi based international private school. Overnighter camp for 78 children. The children kayaked out some 4km to an island where they camped overnight and paddled back the following morning. The children gained experience in planning, preparation, kayaking, self reliance, team working, cooking, camping and much more.
Abu Dhabi government schools (ADEC). Some 400 children came out with Noukhada to kayak to an island and undertake an analysis project of the mature and pioneer mangroves.
Dubai based international private school. Ages 12 to 14. Week without walls. The children travelled down daily from Dubai to take part in a week of kayaking and environmental projects. The week was based on the introduction to kayaking course and a project entitled ‘What environment do the mangroves of the UAE thrive in?’ The week was based on kayaking and mangroves and encompassed an Eco Tour, the Yas Beach kayak boat tour, the target analysis, games and much more. Their feedback… ” … I hope you are doing well! As Noukhada Adventure was such a success last year, we would like to offer this option to our students for the following year. Our Week Without Walls program will take place from Feb 19 – 28, 2015 (approximately). In order to start advertising Noukhada Adventure early and build the excitement. Can you please send me the following… ”