From exploring fynbos to meeting rescued animals, a special outing at Wild Rescue gave children from Melkhoutfontein the chance to learn, laugh and discover the world beyond their everyday surroundings.
Still Bay, South Africa (20 October 2026) – Sometimes, the best lessons happen far beyond the classroom walls. On 17 October, a group of children from StillWater Kids swapped their usual surroundings for the natural beauty of Wild Rescue in Still Bay, where a day of wildlife encounters, environmental discovery and outdoor exploration offered a fresh perspective on the world around them.
Guided by volunteers, the children explored the reserve’s indigenous fynbos and met animals living in its sanctuary. The visit formed part of Wild Rescue’s Wild Classroom programme and StillWater Kids’ wider work to support children’s emotional wellbeing and positive development.
Founded in October 2023, StillWater Kids is a registered non-profit organisation working with children aged seven to 11 in Melkhoutfontein. Its year-long programme combines sport, nature-based activities and mental-health support to help children build resilience, develop life skills and navigate difficult experiences.
Time outdoors is an important part of that approach. Through opportunities to play, explore and learn in a welcoming environment, children can develop confidence, strengthen social connections and experience positive ways of interacting with others.
For Wild Rescue, the outing also brought its Wild Classroom initiative to life. Launched in August 2026, the programme aims to reconnect children from surrounding communities with nature through practical, hands-on environmental education.
Wild Rescue founder and director Gill Simpson said seeing the children so absorbed in the reserve was a reminder of why the programme was created.
She explained that while Wild Rescue is not a therapy centre, it can offer a peaceful and welcoming setting where children can explore the natural world, with StillWater Kids bringing the care and expertise that make these experiences meaningful.
StillWater Kids founder and CEO Cobi Swanepoel said it was rewarding to watch the children discover new things and engage with animals from a different perspective.
By broadening their understanding of the world, the hope is to broaden their horizons, too.
Nature-based activities are not a replacement for professional mental-health care, but they can complement other forms of support by giving children space to relax, play and connect with their surroundings.
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This can be proof that a day spent discovering the wonders of nature can open the door to something much bigger. It could be new knowledge, or just the freedom to imagine what is possible.
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