Conservation Camps

The Maa Trust’s Conservation Camps give Maasai scholarship students hands-on experiences that blend conservation, leadership, and life skills. Over immersive trainings in the Mara and beyond, students learn about gender equality, child rights, and cultural pride while also engaging in practical conservation activities like mangrove planting. By combining education with exposure to new ecosystems and career paths, these camps are shaping a new generation of empowered leaders and conservation champions in the Mara.

Building Future Leaders Through Conservation

The Maa Trust’s Conservation Camps nurture the next generation of leaders who will safeguard both people and nature in the Maasai Mara. By combining conservation education with leadership development and child protection awareness, these transformative expeditions equip young people with the skills, confidence, and values they need to thrive and make a difference.

Learning Journeys in the Mara and Beyond

In 2024, 27 beneficiaries of the basic scholarship program—22 continuing students and five school leavers—participated in two powerful learning journeys supported by the Great Plains Foundation. The first took place in the Maasai Mara, where students attended a five-day leadership development training covering gender equality, FGM, child marriage, goal setting, communication, and self-esteem. Through role-play and discussions, they explored how to apply positive Maasai cultural values in decision-making and problem-solving, strengthening their ability to challenge harmful practices while celebrating traditions that uplift their communities.

The second expedition took the students to Mombasa, many seeing the ocean for the first time. There, they expanded their knowledge into marine conservation by planting mangroves at Majaoni Creek and learning about the importance of coastal ecosystems for biodiversity and climate resilience. Integrated into the trip were career talks, child rights sessions, and sexual reproductive health education, equipping students with practical tools for adolescence and future planning.

Empowered Champions for Culture and Conservation

These conservation camps provided holistic growth experiences that went far beyond academics. Students gained environmental knowledge, leadership qualities, and confidence, while strengthening their sense of identity as custodians of both their culture and the environment. By linking education, culture, and conservation, The Maa Trust is preparing a generation of empowered leaders ready to champion sustainable futures for themselves, their communities, and the wider Mara ecosystem. The 2024 camps proved that when youth are given knowledge, opportunities, and a strong sense of purpose, they become powerful agents of cultural and environmental transformation.