Naturalist Introductory Course for Teachers
Train a Teacher | Empower a School | Connect Students to the World.
Mikoko Development Foundation (MDF), through the Young Environmental Scientists (YES) Programme, invites primary and secondary schools to register their teachers for the Naturalist Introductory Course for Teachers.
This three-day practical programme will empower teachers to use their surrounding environment as a living classroom for science, creativity, innovation, and global citizenship.
After the training, participating teachers will be prepared to establish or strengthen school environmental science clubs, register eligible students through the MDF Digital Portal, and guide them to participate in environmental projects, innovation challenges, competitions, award programmes, mentorship opportunities, and safely managed international learning exchanges.
2026 Training Calendar
|
Camp |
Proposed venue |
Tentative period |
|
Dar es Salaam |
Pugu Kazimzumbwi Nature Forest |
First week of November 2026 |
|
Tabora |
To be confirmed |
Third week of November 2026 |
|
Arusha |
To be confirmed |
First week of December 2026 |
Duration: Three days
Total programme time: 42 hours
Participation fee: TZS 250,000 per teacher
Delivery format: Face-to-face field training supported by the MDF Team
Certification: Naturalist Introductory Course Certificate
Organiser: Mikoko Development Foundation
Programme: Young Environmental Scientists Programme
Exact dates, reporting arrangements and regional venues will be confirmed before participation.
Why Schools Should Register
The programme is designed to produce long-term value for the whole school, not only for the participating teacher.
A teacher trained through this course will return to school with practical knowledge, activity guides, and a 90-day implementation plan to help students learn science through their environment.
Participating schools will be supported to:
- Establish or strengthen a Young Environmental Scientists Club.
- Register teachers and eligible students through the MDF Digital Portal.
- Use the school environment as a practical science laboratory.
- Introduce environmental observation, experimentation and innovation activities.
- Help students develop environmental solutions based on local problems.
- Submit student innovations to MDF challenges and competitions.
- Nominate outstanding students for camps, mentorship and award programmes.
- Build digital records of student projects and achievements.
- Connect students with other young environmental learners in Tanzania and internationally.
- Access selected learning materials, opportunity announcements and follow-up support.
- Document environmental, scientific and community achievements.
develop partnerships with parents, communities, sponsors and environmental organisations.
Features
- Practical Nature-Based Teacher Training: The course uses forests, school grounds and surrounding communities as living classrooms. Teachers learn through observation, field exercises, demonstrations, reflection and practical assignments.
- Environment as a Learning Resource: Teachers learn how to use locally available plants, soils, water, weather, waste and biodiversity to support science, mathematics, reading, arts, technology and sustainability education.
- STREAMSS Learning Approach: The programme connects: Science | Technology | Robotics/Research | Engineering | Arts | Mathematics | Scuba/Sports | Sustainability (This helps teachers design interdisciplinary activities that strengthen creativity, scientific thinking and problem-solving.)
- School Environmental Science Club Development: Every participating teacher receives guidance on how to establish, organise and manage a school environmental science club, including: | Club leadership | Student recruitment | Annual activity planning | Record keeping | Project management | Safety and safeguarding | Monitoring and reporting.
- Student Registration and Digital Participation: After training, qualifying schools can be supported to register their environmental science clubs and eligible students through the approved MDF Digital Portal. The system can help schools document; Student participation | Environmental activities | Innovation projects | Competition submissions | Skills development | Certificates, badges and awards | School environmental achievements.
- Student Creativity and Innovation Development: Teachers learn how to guide students from identifying an environmental problem to designing, testing, improving and presenting a practical solution. Innovation areas may include; Waste management | Water conservation | Tree growing and biodiversity | Clean energy | Sustainable agriculture | Climate adaptation | Environmental games | Nature-based enterprises | Affordable scientific tools.
- Competitions, Awards and Recognition: Qualifying students, teachers and schools may participate in announced: Environmental science competitions, Innovation challenges, School greening awards, Nature-journaling competitions, Climate-action campaigns, Environmental art, essays and storytelling, Regional and national YES events, Teacher coordinator recognition programmes. (Participation will be subject to the requirements and availability of each opportunity.)
- Global Citizenship Education: Teachers learn how to help students understand: Shared responsibility for the planet, Cultural respect and peaceful cooperation, Connections between local and global environmental challenges, Sustainable Development Goals, Responsible leadership, The importance of acting locally while thinking globally.
- Outdoor Safety and Risk Management: The course introduces teachers to; Field risk assessment | Student supervision | Emergency communication | Weather and wildlife risks | Incident reporting | Safe activity planning | Child safeguarding in outdoor environments.
- Digital Learning and Follow-Up Support: Mikoko Marketplace & MDF Digital Portal will support; Pre-course orientation | Downloadable learning resources | Knowledge assessments | Assignment submission | Course announcements | Teacher profiles | Certificates | School action-plan reporting | Future opportunities and programme updates.
- Affordable Institutional Investment: At only TZS 250,000 per participant, the course allows a school to build internal capacity that can benefit many students over several academic years. One trained teacher can inspire hundreds of students, strengthen practical learning and open pathways to science, innovation, environmental leadership and global opportunities.
Target audiences
- Primary and secondary school teachers.
- Science, biology, geography, agriculture and environmental-studies teachers.
- Teachers responsible for innovation, entrepreneurship or extracurricular activities.
- School environmental and science club coordinators.
- Education, forestry and environmental officers working with schools. •
- Heads of schools, academic coordinators and school programme managers.
- Youth mentors, counsellors and life-skills facilitators.
- Teachers nominated by public, private, international, faith-based and community schools.
- Teachers sponsored by companies, foundations, NGOs, development partners or individuals.
- Educators interested in outdoor learning, global citizenship and Education for Sustainable Development.
Requirements
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a practising teacher, educator, youth mentor, club coordinator or education-related professional.
- Receive nomination or approval from their school or institution where applicable.
- Complete the registration form and participant profile.
- Pay the participation fee of TZS 250,000 within the communicated registration period.
- Complete the online pre-course orientation and baseline assessment.
- Select the preferred training location during registration.
- Provide accurate personal, professional and emergency-contact information.
- Be reasonably able to participate in guided outdoor activities, with appropriate adjustments arranged where possible.
- Disclose relevant medical, dietary, accessibility or mobility requirements.
- Have access to a smartphone, tablet or computer for digital orientation, reporting and follow-up activities where possible.
- Accept the participant code of conduct, environmental ethics and camp-safety procedures.
- Bring suitable outdoor clothing, closed shoes, a notebook and personal necessities listed in the joining instructions.
- Attend at least 90% of the required course sessions.
- Complete the three daily STA personal-development activities.
- Follow MDF safeguarding, privacy, photography and responsible digital-use requirements.
- Submit the required assignments and a 90-day School Environmental Action Plan.
FAQs
The Naturalist Introductory Course is a three-day practical training programme designed to help teachers use their surrounding environment as a living classroom for science, creativity, innovation, and environmental education.
It also prepares teachers to establish or strengthen school environmental science clubs and connect students to approved learning, competition, mentorship, and global citizenship opportunities through the Young Environmental Scientists Programme.
The course is organised by Mikoko Development Foundation through its Young Environmental Scientists Programme and coordinated by Mikoko Green Innovation Hub.
The course is open to:
• Primary and secondary school teachers.
• Science, biology, geography, agriculture, and environmental studies teachers.
• School science and environmental club coordinators.
• Teachers responsible for innovation and extracurricular activities.
• School administrators and academic coordinators.
• Youth mentors and life-skills facilitators.
• Education, forestry and environmental officers.
• Other professionals supporting environmental learning among children and young people.
No. This is an introductory course suitable for participants who do not have previous professional naturalist-training experience.
The course begins with foundational concepts and progresses to practical environmental observation, outdoor teaching, student innovation and school-club management.
The participation fee is 250,000 Tsh per teacher, discounted from the original price of 380,000 Tsh.
Payment instructions and the applicable payment deadline will be provided during registration.
The final list of services covered by the fee will be provided in the official joining instructions. Depending on the confirmed camp arrangements, these may include training, selected learning materials, practical activities, assessment, and certification.
Participants and schools should review the official confirmation before making travel or accommodation arrangements.
The tentative 2026 training calendar is:
• Dar es Salaam: Pugu Kazimzumbwi Nature Forest—first week of November 2026.
• Tabora: Third week of November 2026.
• Arusha: First week of December 2026.
Exact dates and the confirmed Tabora and Arusha venues will be communicated to registered participants.
The course runs for three days and provides a total camp programme of approximately 42 hours.
Each day includes facilitated learning, practical environmental activities, meals, health breaks, reflection and three hours of STA personal-development activities.
STA means Self-Time Activities.
These are guided personal-development activities completed individually by each participant. They may include:
• Nature observation.
• Nature journaling.
• Reflective walking.
• Environmental reading.
• Individual creativity exercises.
• Innovation-sketch development.
• Personal leadership assessment.
• Professional-development planning.
• Rest, wellness, and responsible personal preparation.
STA is not assessed as unrestricted free time. Participants receive appropriate guidance and are expected to observe camp safety requirements.
Participants will learn about:
• Natural history and biodiversity.
• Environmental ethics.
• Scientific observation.
• Nature journaling.
• Forest ecosystems.
• STREAMS learning.
• Outdoor teaching.
• Climate action.
• Tree planting and nursery fundamentals.
• School environmental science clubs.
• Student creativity and innovation.
• Risk management and child safeguarding.
• Global citizenship.
• Digital documentation and reporting.
• School environmental project planning.
STREAMSS is an interdisciplinary learning approach connecting:
• Science
• Technology
• Research/Robotics
• Engineering
• Arts
• Mathematics
• Scuba/Sports
• Sustainability
The approach helps teachers use environmental activities to develop scientific understanding, communication, creativity, practical skills and problem-solving.
No. The course combines guided instruction with outdoor and field-based learning.
Participants should expect nature observation, environmental investigations, practical demonstrations, reflection exercises, group discussions and individual assignments.
All field activities will be conducted according to applicable safety and environmental-protection procedures.
Yes. Participants who satisfy the attendance, conduct, assignment and assessment requirements will receive a Naturalist Introductory Course Certificate.
The certificate confirms successful completion of the introductory course. It does not automatically qualify the participant as a Basic Assistant Naturalist Trainer.
A participant must:
• Complete the digital orientation.
• Attend at least 90% of the required sessions.
• Participate professionally in course activities.
• Complete the required STA assignments.
• Submit practical course assignments.
• Prepare a 90-day School Environmental Action Plan.
• Complete the final assessment.
• Achieve an overall score of at least 60%.
• Follow the participant code of conduct and safeguarding requirements.
Yes. Successful participants may become eligible for future advanced training, mentorship or assessment opportunities under the MDF naturalist-development pathway.
Progression will depend on published requirements, satisfactory performance and the availability of advanced programmes.
A trained teacher can help the school:
• Establish or strengthen an environmental science club.
• Introduce practical outdoor learning.
• Improve environmental science activities.
• Guide student innovation projects.
• Develop environmental action plans.
• Prepare students for competitions and exhibitions.
• Document school environmental achievements.
• Identify talented students.
• Connect students to approved mentorship and learning opportunities.
• Promote global citizenship and responsible environmental leadership.
The training therefore creates value beyond the individual participant.
A school may nominate one or more teachers.
Where possible, schools are encouraged to nominate at least two teachers:
1. A science, biology, geography, agriculture or environmental-studies teacher.
2. A teacher responsible for clubs, innovation, counselling or extracurricular activities.
Having two trained teachers improves programme continuity and allows academic and club responsibilities to be shared.
Yes. Schools may register multiple teachers through an institutional registration process and request a consolidated invoice where available.
The school should provide the names and positions of the nominated teachers and details of the authorised school representative.
Yes. Companies, foundations, NGOs, development partners and individuals may sponsor one or more teachers.
A sponsor may:
• Support a named teacher.
• Sponsor teachers from a particular school.
• Sponsor public-school teachers selected according to published criteria.
• Support a group of teachers from one region.
• Fund a complete school or district delegation.
Sponsorship recognition and reporting arrangements should be agreed with MDF before confirmation.
Yes. An eligible teacher may register and pay individually.
However, the teacher should seek school approval before implementing a club, registering students or carrying out school-based activities after the training.
Each teacher will be expected to begin implementing a 90-day School Environmental Action Plan.
The plan may include:
• Obtaining school-management approval.
• Establishing or strengthening a school club.
• Registering eligible students.
• Conducting an environmental baseline assessment.
• Delivering an outdoor lesson.
• Starting a school environmental project.
• Organising a student innovation activity.
• Preparing students for competitions.
• Engaging parents and community stakeholders.
• Reporting progress through the approved MDF digital system.
Participating schools may be supported in registering eligible students and club activities through the approved MDF Digital Portal.
Student registration must follow:
• School approval.
• Appropriate parental or guardian consent.
• MDF and school safeguarding procedures.
• Personal-data protection requirements.
• Responsible photography and communication rules.
Depending on eligibility, programme capacity and available partnerships, students may access:
• Environmental science activities.
• Innovation challenges.
• School greening competitions.
• Nature-journaling programmes.
• Climate-action campaigns.
• Mentorship opportunities.
• Regional or national YES events.
• Digital learning resources.
• Skills badges, certificates or awards.
• Moderated national and international learning exchanges.
Registration does not guarantee selection for every opportunity. Each activity will have its own requirements.
Approved schools may participate in safely moderated international learning exchanges.
These may include joint environmental projects, virtual classroom discussions, cultural storytelling and shared biodiversity activities.
Student interactions must be:
• Organised institution to institution.
• Supervised by authorised teachers.
• Age appropriate.
• Supported by required consent.
• Conducted through approved communication channels.
• Monitored under safeguarding and privacy requirements.
Unsupervised exchange of private student contact information is not permitted.
Participants may receive selected digital or printed learning resources, activity guides, templates and reporting tools.
The confirmed materials will be listed in the official joining instructions.
Participants should have reasonable access to a smartphone, tablet or computer for:
• Pre-course orientation.
• LearnPress lessons.
• Course announcements.
• Digital assessments.
• Assignment submission.
• School-club registration.
• Post-training reporting.
Participants who face digital-access limitations should inform MDF during registration so that reasonable alternatives can be considered where possible.
The course includes guided walking and outdoor activities. Participants should disclose medical, mobility, dietary or accessibility requirements during registration.
MDF will seek to provide reasonable adjustments where practicable, but participants should follow all medical, safety and facilitator guidance.
The detailed packing list will be issued with the joining instructions. Participants should generally prepare:
• Comfortable and modest outdoor clothing.
• Closed walking shoes.
• Rain or sun protection.
• Refillable drinking-water bottle.
• Notebook and pens.
• Personal medication.
• Personal hygiene items.
• A smartphone or camera where available.
• Any additional items identified by the organisers.
Participants should not bring prohibited, dangerous or environmentally harmful items.
The programme will apply appropriate:
• Participant registration and accountability.
• Activity risk assessment.
• Safety briefings.
• Facilitator supervision.
• Emergency communication.
• Incident reporting.
• Health and welfare procedures.
• Child and vulnerable-person safeguarding.
• Environmental-protection requirements.
Participants must follow facilitator instructions and report medical, safety or safeguarding concerns promptly.
Arrangements may differ by location. The official joining instructions will confirm whether transport, camping equipment, or accommodation are included or arranged separately.
Participants should not make assumptions based on previous camps or promotional materials. But the cost covers the primary cost for camping equipment, facilitation costs, meals, and resource kits
Withdrawal, substitution, refund and transfer conditions should be communicated during registration and before payment.
Schools should notify MDF as early as possible if a nominated teacher can no longer participate.
A substitution may be accepted before the registration deadline, subject to eligibility, available space and approval by MDF.
The replacement participant must complete all required registration, orientation and safeguarding declarations.
No. Participation does not guarantee employment, funding, sponsorship or selection for future programmes.
The course develops professional capacity and provides access to relevant programme information and opportunities, subject to eligibility and availability.
The course incorporates recognised approaches in Education for Sustainable Development, experiential learning, environmental ethics, risk management and safeguarding.
However, it should not be presented as internationally accredited unless formal accreditation has been obtained and officially announced by MDF.
Schools will complete the approved online registration form, select their preferred camp and submit the required nomination and institutional information.
Registration is confirmed only after:
• Eligibility review.
• Availability of space.
• Submission of required information.
• Payment or approved sponsorship.
• Receipt of official confirmation from MDF.
Schools should register as early as possible because each camp will have limited places.
Early registration will also provide adequate time for:
• School nomination and approval.
• Payment processing.
• Digital orientation.
• Health and accessibility planning.
• Travel preparation.
• Completion of the baseline assessment.
For registration, school participation, sponsorship, or technical enquiries, applicants may contact Mikoko Development Foundation through the official contact information published on the registration page.
Train One Teacher | Empower Hundreds of Students | Build a Generation of Creative Global Environmental Citizens. Call: +255 762 660 666/+255 793 700 078 or email: neema@mikoko.co.tz
