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The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) is a business unit of the National Research Foundation that undertakes long term ecological observations to understand the drivers of change in our environment. SAEON has an education and outreach programme in environmental science which enriches scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills of beneficiaries.

SAEON has nodes distributed across the country that conducts environmental science research in terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

• Arid Lands Node in Kimberly, Northern Cape

• Egagasini Node in Cape Town, Western Cape

• Elwandle Node in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

• Fynbos Node in Cape Town, Western Cape

• Grassland, Forest and Wetlands Node in Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal

• Ndlovu Node in Phalaborwa, Limpopo

• uLwazi Node in Cape Town, Western Cape

SAEON’s environmental science education programme (ESEP) are implemented in four of the nodes (Arid Lands, Egagasini, Elwandle and Ndlovu). The ESEP implements school-based monitoring, learner support, educator support and awareness programmes. The ESEP seeks to expose and encourage learners to pursue careers in the environmental sciences. This is achieved through programmes that are fun and engaging. The ESEP encourages the use of an outdoor laboratory to enhance learners' observational and critical thinking skills.