Chloe was awarded £100 to help with her fees participating in a Scout trip to Botswana for Animal conservation…
“My volunteering trip to Botswana was a once-in-a-lifetime experience centred around hands-on wildlife conservation and incredible encounters with nature. A key part of our work involved tackling environmental challenges. We built soil erosion dams to limit surface runoff, deconstructed an old wildmill, and helped install a solar pump system, transferring water from a borehole into a waterhole, to provide a sustainable water source for wildlife. This was the most rewarding accomplishment from the trip, as it allowed us to go home knowing that we made a difference.

Another important focus was wildlife protection; in groups, we located and removed snares, which was an eye-opening experience that highlighted the daily threats that animals face from poaching. These efforts underscored the importance of conservation initiatives in maintaining Botswana’s delicate ecosystem. 

Beyond the work, the trip offered opportunities to fully immerse in Botswana’s culture through visits to the Limpopo River and a local village where we were warmly welcomed by the traditional “zebra dancing”. This cultural exchange offered depth to the trip, allowing us to see how the communities and wildlife are deeply intertwined. We were also able to fully experience the wilderness, with multiple sleepouts and guided safaris, bringing us up close to elephants, giraffes and countless other species within their natural habitat, reminding us of the importance of conservation. 

Overall, my time in Botswana was transformative and eye-opening. I left with a stronger appreciation for conservation and a deeper respect for local traditions, as well as memories that will last a lifetime.”

Abigail was awarded £100 to help with her fees participating in a Scout trip to Botswana for Animal conservation.

“In August 2025, I took part in the Kent scouts Botswana 25 trip as an Explorer. Although I originally found adapting to life in the bush hard, the experience allowed me to grow as a person and make new friendships with people that were like-minded and part of the same scouting family. The opportunity to take part in the trip allowed me to experience a different culture as well as gain a greater understanding of animal conservation and ways you can help the environment. Through cleaning water holes to learning to build soil erosion dames and anti poaching activities, I was educated by the friendly staff about how much these items would have an impact on the environment and the animals and about how something which seemed so small at the time could make such an impact. Our main project Water for Elephants, was about changing the wind turbine to a solar panel and then fixing the pipe and cleaning the water hole so that one of the main water holes on the reserve was back in operation. I loved the opportunity to be a part of such a large project in our team which could make the world of difference to the animals- a bonus was that we got to swim in the water hole two times once it was fixed. Alongside all the hard work we participated in on the trip, it was an amazing experience to get the opportunity to do things such as swim in the water hole and the dam as it brought a funny rewarding atmosphere as well as cooling us off from the heat. Additionally we got the amazing opportunity to do a sleep out in two locations – the dam and a hill side- across the reserve. This opportunity allowed us to be exposed to the noises animals made and gain a greater awareness of our surroundings as the locations were silent as well as experiencing nocturnal wildlife and seeing super stars and sunrises whilst continuing to bond with other members of Kent Scouts. The memories of the trip and the friends I made along the way will stay with me for a lifetime – along with the pictures of Alan’s camera being continuously photo-bombed!”

Jude was awarded £100 to help with his fees participating in a Scout trip to Botswana for Animal conservation.

“I spent 16 days in Botswana on a wildlife conservation program, taking part in a range of practical fieldwork. Our days included removing illegal snares, taking part in wildlife sleep-outs to monitor animal activity, and maintaining watering holes that are essential for elephants and other species. I also helped with mosquito-awareness efforts and worked on the construction of soil-erosion dams, which play an important role in protecting the surrounding landscape. Along the way, I learned how to weave a costa, a traditional skill that was interesting to pick up.

A memorable moment from the trip was seeing hippos on the river. Watching them in their natural environment provided a clear reminder of why conservation work matters.

Overall, the experience gave me a practical understanding of conservation challenges and the day-to-day efforts needed to support wildlife and local ecosystems.”