History

Haida Bolton and Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace. Saltspring Island, Canada, 1995.

The idea for Camp Uganda began to take shape in 1995 following a conversation between Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist and chimpanzee expert, and Haida Bolton, future founder of the Camp.

The two women had just met on Canada's west coast. One day, walking together through the rainforest, Haida spoke about her many years of working at a children's summer camp, of her admiration for Jane's work and her love for chimpanzees. Jane suggested that Haida organize a children's camp at a chimp sanctuary in Africa. Haida was thrilled with the idea and, although not possible at the time, kept the dream alive. Then, one day in the autumn of...

2005

Haida made a connection with the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) and with Kasiisi Primary School. Plans got underway for the first camp.

2006

A fundraising committee was formed and the task of building financial support for the new venture began.

2007

From January 29 to February 1, 22 children and 3 teachers from near Fort Portal and Entebbe attended the first Camp Uganda, held at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. Fourteen of the campers and two of the teachers were sponsored by the Camp Uganda Fundraising Committee.

In May, the first meeting of the Camp Uganda Conservation Education Society (CUCES), an official British Columbia non-profit society, took place in Parksville, British Columbia, Canada. A few months later, CUCES obtained official charitable status.

2008

From January 14 - 18, the second annual Camp Uganda was held at UWEC with 25 campers and 5 teachers from Gulu and Masindi. All were sponsored by CUCES.

2009

This 5 day camp was held January 26-30. Twenty-five children and 4 teachers were “empowered”. Half came from a village near Kibale Forest and half from near Kalinzu Forest.

2010

On January 16th, the Camp Uganda Conservation Education Society became an official member of the Kibale Forest Coalition for Conservation Education.

Our most successful 6 day camp was held January 25 - 30. We empowered a record 30 campers and 7 teachers from Kyanyawara and Rweetera Primary Schools near Kibale Forest and from Nyabyeya Primary School near Budongo Forest. Campers and teachers were very excited to learn to make fuel-efficient stoves and excellent techniques for planting trees.

2011

Our camp became 7 days long, May 2-8, as we introduced a day long Conservation Leadership Workshop into our program. 30 campers, 6 teachers and 2 ex-campers turned volunteers, attended another successful camp. Lessons in constructing Rocket Stoves and planting trees continued to excite campers again this year.