Nautilus is a non-profit organisation in Bloemfontein (South Africa), which strives for the advancement of Mathematics. Currently our main activity comprises quarterly camps where learners from Grade 4 to Grade 12 are exposed to and educated in Olympiad level Mathematics. The learners also take part in olympiads at these camps. Nautilus furthermore is responsible for the participation of teams from the Free State/Northern Cape in the South African Mathematics Team Competition, or as it was known before, the Inter Provincial Mathematics Olympiad.
Nautilus was initiated around 25 years ago for the purpose of giving the more talented learners the opportunity to advance their knowledge in Mathematics and to expose them to Olympiad type mathematics. Through the years this has stayed an important objective of Nautilus. At first, the organisation only attracted learners from Bloemfontein, at the then called Onderwyssentrum under the leadership of Mr Giel de Villiers, who then acted as the head of the center. Through the years Nautilus grew to such an extent that presently, learners from all over the Free State and also Kimberley from the Northern Cape attend Nautilus camps regularly.
Nautilus presents four Mathematics camps per year. After been hosted at the Onderwyssentrum, Nautilus moved the the grounds of Grey College for about 12 years. In 2009 Nautilus split into two groups, with Grades 4 to 6 being hosted at Brandwag Primary School and Grades 7 to 12 being hosted at the University of the Free State. In 2011, after much deliberation, it was decided to become one big happy Nautilus family again. We needed lots of space for the total of 700 learners that sometimes attend a single Nautilus camp. So the move was made to Jim Fouché High School. Currently the camps are being held at Fichardtpark Primary School.
Nowadays up to about 100 schools are involved in Nautilus. The most learners usually enter through their respective schools, but individual entries from parents or other private organisations are also received and welcomed. The invitation is usually sent a month in advance to the schools.
Nautilus is proud to have on its staff some of the most dedicated Mathematics teachers and university lecturers to be found. These facilitators make it possible to provide a very high standard of Mathematics and teaching.
We invite all teachers, parents, learners or any organisation to make contact with us and become part of the Nautilus Mathematics family.
