The SSKB Animals’ Awareness Park was established in 1982. The primary purpose for establishing the park was to educate soldiers on the behaviour and general characteristics of various animals they were likely to encounter in their operational areas as well as to sensitise BDF personnel on the need and value of wild life conservation.

Initially, the park composed of snakes only, but later expanded into keeping other dangerous animals such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and crocodiles. The initiative came at the time when the BDF started anti-poaching operations around the Chobe areas and it was felt that it was necessary that soldiers be educated on the behaviours of these animals as they are mostly found in the same area. This was important in the sense that soldiers could operate in the area without killing these animals rather than conserving them.

With the demand from the general public to visit the park, it was later on expanded and other animals such as monkeys, baboons, zebras and warthogs were introduced. The park today has become one the major tourist attractions around Gaborone with over 2000 visitors annually, especially Primary and Secondary schools, government and private institutions, dignitaries and the public in general.

There are three educational game reserves namely Gaborone Game Reserve, Manyelanong Game Reserve and Maun Game Reserve. These reserves offer a variety of facilities and activities which include nature trails, observation hides, visitor centres, picnic sites, game viewing, bird watching, guided walks, environmental education programs etc. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) has established Environmental Education Programs in Educational Game Reserve throughout Botswana. The program offers the learners with first-hand experience with the diverse wildlife resources at the reserves through the exploration of the environment. Lessons offered are prepared to meet the objectives of environmental education with reference to the school syllabi and centered on a holistic approach to the environmental knowledge hence help meet specific needs of different groups. The program is also designed to provide materials and activity ideas for environmental clubs.

The junior sport programme is national sporting initiative committed to the development of young people through sport. This is a joint initiative of the department of Sport and Recreation and the ministry of Education with assistance of the Australian Sports Commission.

The Programme intends to give the young Batswana the best possible experience in sport. Specifically the programme is aimed at all young people, both in and out of school. The thrust of the initiative aims at developing sporting skills promoting fun and enjoyments as well as encouraging young people to participate in sporting activities. The programme will provide tailor made issues for teachers to enable them to develop coaching and teaching sport to young people. Effective implementation of this programme is a responsibility of many organizations, which include schools, youth workers and sport associations. All these organizations must work together to ensure that young people have the best possible experience in sport.

Components of the National Junior Sport Programme

• Are-tshamekeng - Seeks to teach children aged 2-6 basic concepts of body coordination through physically active play games and movement skills.
• Bana Sport - It is a sequential motor skill programme of children which focuses on basic sport skills development. Bana sport seeks to develop motor skills for sport to young children aged 6-8. It concentrates on the basic skills of locomotion, ball contrl, throwing, tracking and trapping, kicking and striking. It provides teachers with a series developmental activity aimed at improving fundamental motor skills among primary school aged children.
• Modified Sport - It targets 8-12 year olds and seeks to introduce basic sport skills, rules and regulations to young people. In modified sport, various sport codes are specifically adapted so that they are more suitable for the players’ age, physical capability, health status, skill level and previous experience.