From May 5th to 9th, 2025, Ewaso Lions hosted a transformative Lion Kids Camp (LKC) for 26 young livestock herders from Nenyirau in Westgate Community Conservancy. This immersive five-day camp provided children, 88% of whom had never received formal wildlife or conservation education, with a unique opportunity to connect with Kenya’s iconic wildlife and learn about the importance of coexisting peacefully with large carnivores like lions.
Despite living near Samburu National Reserve, none of the children had ever been on a wildlife safari before. That changed on Day One of the Camp. Excitement buzzed as the children spotted cheetahs, hyaenas, giraffes, zebras, and even elephants swimming in the river. For many, this was their first positive experience with wild animals, an unforgettable moment that we hope reshaped their perceptions.
Why Lion Kids Camp Matters
Across Kenya, both rural and urban children often grow up disconnected from wildlife. In rural areas, interactions with wild animals tend to be negative, lion attacks on livestock, crop raids by elephants, or fear of predators. In cities, children may never learn about their native species. LKC was created in 2013 to bridge this gap, nurturing an appreciation and responsibility for wildlife among the country’s youth.
This Camp aimed to:
- Educate children about lions, other wildlife, and the threats they face.
- Promote coexistence by teaching livestock-friendly practices.
- Inspire action for conservation in their own communities.
Impact in Numbers
The camp’s impact was measured through pre- and post-camp quizzes and surveys. The results speak volumes:
- 100% of participants went on their first wildlife safari.
- 92% improved their ability to identify carnivores using tracks, signs, or sounds.
- 86% showed better knowledge of local mammal species.
- Threats awareness skyrocketed; children went from identifying an average of 2.4 threats to 11.2.
- Perceptions shifted; 100% of attendees believed that wildlife brings more benefits than problems, up from 42%.
- Conservation responsibility soared; before the camp, only 4% felt responsible for protecting wildlife. Post-camp? 100%.
From Conflict to Coexistence
The Camp emphasised practical coexistence strategies tailored to herding children. Activities like “The Herding Challenge” made learning fun and relatable. By the end of the Camp:
- Every child listed more ways to protect livestock from predators, such as strengthening bomas (livestock enclosures) and using guard dogs.
- All attendees could name actions to help conserve wildlife and their habitats, such as avoiding grazing in protected areas and reporting wildlife injuries.
Changing Hearts and Minds
Before Camp, only 38% of children said they wanted more lions in their area. After Camp, that rose to 58%. The proportion of children who “strongly liked” lions rose from 81% to 96%. Most remarkably, 100% of participants said killing wild animals is ‘very bad’.
One child shared, “My attitude towards wild animals has improved as a result of this camp.” Another added, “I enjoyed LKC and would attend another if given the opportunity.”
We are deeply grateful to Westgate Community Conservancy, Samburu National Reserve, and our donors for making this Camp possible. Your support helped inspire a new generation of Kenyan conservation leaders.
Learn More About Lion Kids Camp
Since 2013, Ewaso Lions has hosted 48 camps, reaching over 1,275 children across four counties. Our mission is clear: to educate and empower Kenyan youth as wildlife stewards. With every Camp, we get closer to a future where people and lions can continue to thrive together.
Follow our journey on Instagram, Facebook, or visit www.ewasolions.org to support our work.
