The Future Rangers Program: 2025 Strategic Overview
When the Future Rangers Program was established in 2017, we faced a stark reality: 4 out of 5 youth living near Kruger Park had never seen wildlife. Through key partnerships (including the Southern African Wildlife College, the Timbavati Foundation, Wild Impact and Koru Camp) we’ve reached over 15,000 students who live within 10km of Kruger National Park. We’ve ensured every student in our 6 focus schools has experienced wildlife through game drives, field trips, classroom lessons, and mentoring – a fundamental foundation aimed at inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders.
Now we face a new challenge: Over 55% of youth in our regions, especially females, cannot find employment or further education after graduation.
If the students we’ve collectively inspired, trained and motivated cannot find employment and benefit from wildlife, we will not have achieved the ultimate goal of developing the next generation of local leadership in conservation. Therefore, this moment is particularly critical as our first cohort of Grade 12 students, whom we’ve nurtured since 2017, prepare to graduate. For seven years, we’ve watched these young conservationists grow from curious children into passionate wildlife advocates. To support their successful transition from high school towards gainful employment, we’re launching the Graduates program in 2025 – an after-school program for top performers. We’ve selected 15 outstanding Grade 12 students across our 3 High Schools and will provide them with dedicated coaching and mentoring to secure internships, higher education placement (university or trade school), and employment opportunities in 2026.
Our vision is to build an empathetic, professional, local workforce to become wildlife’s greatest advocates and protectors. By identifying and nurturing exceptional talent from within communities bordering Kruger Park, we’re creating a pipeline of passionate conservation leaders who will shape the future of African wildlife protection. 2025 marks the year when our long-term investment in these young minds begins to transform into real-world impact for African conservation.
Hitting the Road: GCC’s New Bus!
With nearly 100 students in the Future Rangers High School Program, and more than 1,500 students in the Primary Schools, you can imagine how challenging transportation has been as we coordinate dozens of field trips every year. Until now, we’ve relied on renting buses to fulfill our transportation needs, but we’ve always dreamed of our own set of wheels to get the students into nature.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Fulconis family, we are able to see this dream realized!
GCC is now the proud owner of a brand new Toyota Quantum, able to move 16 passengers safely, efficiently (and stylishly) across the rugged greater Kruger landscape. GCC’s Mbhoni Mzamani, said this about his new mobile office:
“This new bus is transforming how we serve our communities. As GCC’s Community Liaison Officer, I spend most of my time visiting schools and conservation partners, and having dedicated transportation has dramatically expanded our reach. We’re already planning more student field trips this year since we can now access conservation areas more easily. This resource isn’t just an improvement – it’s truly revolutionizing our ability to make a difference!”
To add to the vehicle’s capabilities, the Lumsden Family kindly donated specific funds to cover an engine upgrade, improved air conditioning, and the vital necessity of comprehensive insurance. On the ground, a massive thank you to Trophy Toyota Tzaneen for giving us a generous discount and funding the costs of a fully branded vehicle with the talented TZN Print Co. With this new set of wheels, we’re no longer limited by transportation challenges. We can visit schools more frequently, provide hands-on conservation experiences to more students, and ensure that every Future Ranger has access to the programs that inspire them to protect our planet.
This is a major step forward for GCC, and we’re excited to see where the road takes us next!
Koru Camp: A Reward for Top Future Rangers
Classroom learning is essential, but some of the most profound conservation lessons happen out in the wild, in mother nature’s backyard. That’s why we send our learners to Koru Camp, an immersive nature experience that brings Future Rangers beyond the walls of their schools and into the ecosystems they work so hard to protect.
The first Koru Camp of 2025 was an extra special one, as it was reserved for the top-performing Future Rangers from last year. As a reward for their dedication and hard work in 2024, these students got to spend two nights in the bush, learning practical conservation skills and witnessing the wonders of nature up close. From sunset drives along the Olifants River to lessons on biodiversity and survival skills, the experience reinforced why protecting these landscapes is so important.
This entire camp was generously funded by the newly launched BHS Foundation; the impact-driven wing of BHS Safari Co – a luxury safari operator and destination management company based in the Greater Kruger region.
These camps allow students to connect with nature firsthand, guided by expert conservationists who help them understand the delicate balance of wildlife and environmental stewardship. Expeditions to Koru Camp form the heart of what we do—because conservation isn’t just learned in a classroom, it’s felt, experienced, and lived.
Ellie and Steph Visit South Africa
We were thrilled to host GCC Board Members Ellie Milano and Steph Welsh in South Africa last month. Their visit provided a comprehensive view into our various programs, partnerships, and to connect with our incredible GCC staff. Throughout the week, we met with various partners from Koru Camp, the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Southern African Wildlife College and Nourish.
Most importantly, this trip gave Steph and Ellie the opportunity to meet with our students in the Future Rangers Program. We were able to visit both Primary and High schools, with the week ending in a trip to Koru Camp for our top 12 high school learners from 2024. On safari with the students, we had some incredible lion, leopard, and elephant sightings in the bush, witnessing firsthand the power of youth connecting with the natural world. Ellie and Steph concluded their trip with recommendations, insights, and key takeaways which will be presented to the greater board and used to improve GCC’s long-term strategic plans.
We’re so grateful to Steph and Ellie for coming all this way from Denver and Boston, respectively. It’s always so rewarding to see the power of different backgrounds, nationalities, and perspectives coming together for something bigger than ourselves.
If you’re interested in experiencing a behind-the-scenes adventure like Ellie and Steph, reach out to matt@globalconservationcorps.org for more information on our Wildlife Guardians travel program.
