Looking back... and farewell!

By Eleanor Yeld Hutchings , 31st January 2019

In 2014 the decision was made to re-invent the Shark Centre at Kalk Bay as the Save Our Seas Foundation’s Shark Education Centre, which would focus specifically on school-level education – although adults would also be welcome! In order to do this, educational staff would have to be appointed and new and exciting programming would have to be implemented. The position of Education Centre Manager was created, and I took it up on 1 April 2014. My main project was to strategically develop its programming, exhibits, capacity and direction.

It is now nearly 5 years later, and looking back, I can say with confidence that the Shark Education Centre is flying! We have incredible exhibits, amazing staff, excellent programming… and the Centre is perfectly placed to make a real difference in motivating, inspiring, and showing people how to act in an environmentally sustainable way. And of course, to love sharks and the ocean!

It has also come time for me to leave to Shark Education Centre, and hand over the reigns to someone new. I am confident that with new leadership the Centre will grow even more, and will continue to be a wonderful asset to shark and marine environmental education. I’m very sad to be leaving this beautiful place, and I will miss my incredible colleagues and team, but I won’t be leaving the field entirely, as I will be moving to the City of Cape Town to take up a People and Conservation position in the Biodiversity Management Department. And I am sure there will be many collaborations in the future.

For now, I am looking back over a few of my favourite moments as part of the SOSF Shark Education centre team. Thank you to everyone who has been part of it, and for making these 5 years what they were.

Talking about marine pollution on the beach © Shark Education Centre | Save Our Seas Foundation

Doing yoga on the beach to warm up for Marine Explorers surfing © Shark Education Centre | Save Our Seas Foundation

Hanging up the up-cycled plastic bottle jellyfish at the Centre © Fresh Air Crew | Save Our Seas Foundation

Marine Explorers beach graduation © Shark Education Centre | Save Our Seas Foundation

Finding shark egg cases while snorkelling © Shark Education Centre | Save Our Seas Foundation

Playing the Treasure Hunt app © Shark Education Centre | Save Our Seas Foundation

Rock-pooling at Dalebrook Marine Sanctuary © Shark Education Centre | Save Our Seas Foundation

Finding a live paper nautilus on the St James beach © Shark Education Centre | Save Our Seas Foundation

Teaching a group of children using the microscope at the touch pool. Photo by Michael C. Scholl © Save Our Seas Foundation

Looking back… and farewell!