My name is Kellyn Whitehead and I joined the Nature’s Valley Trust team the beginning of March this year. I studied at the University of Stellenbosch where I did my undergrad BSc in Biodiversity and Ecology and then went on to do my BSc Honours in Biodiversity and Ecology. Once I finished with my Honours degree I was fortunate enough to be asked to help raise a baby elephant who was one week old and whose mother had passed away after giving birth. This was an amazing experience which will stay with me for the rest of my life. Unfortunately the little elephant was too weak and after 7 weeks of spending time with him he also passed away. After the loss of the baby elephant I was asked to stay on and help with the volunteer programme that my bosses were running and I worked for them for 6 months. I soon realised that I was not gaining any new experience after some time working for the volunteer programme, so I decided to look elsewhere for a conservation internship that would provide me with the experience I was looking for as well as one that would allow me to grow as an individual.
Kellyn sampling aquatic macro-invertebrates in the Groot River
While looking for programmes that provided conservation internship opportunities I came across the Nature’s Valley Trust (NVT) and soon after reading about what they were all about knew that this was the one for me. After making contact with Dr Mark Brown and speaking to him about everything they do I decided to join them and do a conservation internship if there was any space available for me to do so, thankfully there was. As time drew near to starting my new journey and learning experience I was both excited and nervous as I tend to be a shy individual and was not completely sure what I was walking into. Once I met Mark and the team I felt much better and knew that I had made the right decision in coming to Nature’s Valley and joining the Trust.
Data capturing for Mosquito Fish sampling
Kellyn and Babalwa heading out to survey Mosquito Fish
What bugs can I find?
My first day was one that I will not be forgetting anytime soon as I was thrown right into the mix and loved every moment of it. The days to follow in my first week were filled with so many new experiences and working with the team has been a blast. Since joining NVT I have had been fortunate enough to swim with seals (AMAZING) for a seal research programme, help out with seine net fishing for a estuary fish project, collect aquatic insects for a river health project, hunt for the invasive mosquito fish in the Groot River,plant survey’s, environmental education and I have started to learn how to ring birds. All of the projects that I have mentioned have been an amazing experience and in the two months that I have been here I have increased my plant, freshwater fish and invertebrate and bird knowledge, something that I would not have gained had I remained where I was. Working with the children for the environmental education programme has also be a wonderful experience and helped me with my confidence when working with the public.
Cindy stealing candy from Kellyn on an EE outing
The people who make up the NVT team have also brought so much good into my life as they are a lovely bunch of people to work with and have become good friends of mine. Through their support and knowledge they have helped me grow as a person and have helped me realise that there is more to me than I had originally thought. I can’t wait to continue on my journey with NVT and to see what else is in store for me. For anyone who is considering an conservation internship to improve on their knowledge and field experience of the natural environment, as well as wanting to meet and work with some amazing people, then I would recommend joining the Nature’s Valley Trust as you will gain that valuable experience and so much more.
Kellyn and Ruth enjoying the view while out on Fynbos research