News Detail
EDGE Zimbabwe Blog Post #6
Pitching in to build lion enclosure
Saturday, July 11
This Saturday, we split into two groups; one helped with the lion feeding, and the other worked on our Shawnigan donated lion enclosure. Since my group experienced lion feeding last Saturday, we worked all morning on digging and clearing trenches in order to set up the fence. It took a lot of teamwork and communication - especially with the Antelope Park workers as they were not always clear on the objective. The tools we used could be described as picks, shovels and weed slashers, and these caused multiple blisters as we made our way around the soon-to-be lion enclosure. Our team members rotated often and we realized how much we rely on machinery back in Canada. Simple inventions that we now think are outdated can cause the world of difference in projects like these; endless work hours in the beating sun helped us appreciate the behind-the-sceens farming and labour work. After finally being able to set up one side of fencing, we headed back to the main lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, both groups joined together to finish off some house-keeping details in the trench-digging side of things while others worked on creating the foundation for a platform, which the lions would later use for resting. Digging out weeds in my backyard at home gave me no advantage to the sweat, pain, power and strength required and created out of stabbing the ground repeatedly in order to create holes (a foot and a half deep) which would later hold the wooden platform.
Later that evening, Antelope Park held a Country-themed dance party, which Shawnigan students proudly represented Canada as we took over the dance floor with our line-dancing skills. This Saturday was one of our most labour-intensive days, and ended our 10 days at Antelope Park with a perfect dose of celebration as all of us tried to learn some of Mrs. C’s crazy moves and sang along with the local live Zimbabwean band.
By Freya Jones
Back
This Saturday, we split into two groups; one helped with the lion feeding, and the other worked on our Shawnigan donated lion enclosure. Since my group experienced lion feeding last Saturday, we worked all morning on digging and clearing trenches in order to set up the fence. It took a lot of teamwork and communication - especially with the Antelope Park workers as they were not always clear on the objective. The tools we used could be described as picks, shovels and weed slashers, and these caused multiple blisters as we made our way around the soon-to-be lion enclosure. Our team members rotated often and we realized how much we rely on machinery back in Canada. Simple inventions that we now think are outdated can cause the world of difference in projects like these; endless work hours in the beating sun helped us appreciate the behind-the-sceens farming and labour work. After finally being able to set up one side of fencing, we headed back to the main lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, both groups joined together to finish off some house-keeping details in the trench-digging side of things while others worked on creating the foundation for a platform, which the lions would later use for resting. Digging out weeds in my backyard at home gave me no advantage to the sweat, pain, power and strength required and created out of stabbing the ground repeatedly in order to create holes (a foot and a half deep) which would later hold the wooden platform.
Later that evening, Antelope Park held a Country-themed dance party, which Shawnigan students proudly represented Canada as we took over the dance floor with our line-dancing skills. This Saturday was one of our most labour-intensive days, and ended our 10 days at Antelope Park with a perfect dose of celebration as all of us tried to learn some of Mrs. C’s crazy moves and sang along with the local live Zimbabwean band.
By Freya Jones
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
