Kids as Forest Guardians in Rural Drake Bay

Growing Together: Ongoing Work with Our School Communities

The year has started by reconnecting with the communities we have worked alongside for years.

During the first three months of 2026, our environmental education program continued its collaboration with 7 of the 11 rural schools we work with annually, reaching approximately 52 children across the Osa region. This ongoing relationship allows us to go beyond one-time activities, building trust, reinforcing knowledge, and creating lasting impact over time.

Understanding Consumption: Small Choices, Big Impact

In the schools of El Progreso, Los Ángeles, and Agujitas, we implemented the first session of our educational program:

Unit 1: Responsible Consumption (Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 12)

Through participatory activities and group dynamics, students explored:

• The difference between needs and wants
• How daily habits influence waste generation
• The environmental impact of consumer behavior

Because many of these students have participated in our programs before, discussions were richer, showing not only understanding, but also growing awareness and critical thinking about their role in protecting the environment.

Protecting Wildlife: Deepening Knowledge Over Time

We also continued our wildlife conservation program in schools across the Golfo Dulce region, building on the process that began at the end of last year.

This continuity has been essential. It has allowed students to:

• Reinforce previous learning
• Develop a deeper understanding of local wildlife conservation
• Strengthen attitudes of respect and protection toward biodiversity

Sustained engagement is what transforms information into meaningful, long-term behavior change.

Discovering Nature Through Science

This quarter marked the launch of our Invertebrate Monitoring Program, an initiative designed to bring students closer to science through hands-on learning in their natural environment.

Through this process, students begin to:

• Develop skills in observation, recording, and analysis
• Understand the importance of macroinvertebrates as indicators of water quality
• Connect scientific concepts with their everyday surroundings

A particularly meaningful moment came with the donation of a microscope from a partner organization. For many students in Bahía Drake, this represents their first opportunity to use scientific equipment, opening a new window into the natural world and making learning both tangible and exciting.

Looking Ahead

This first quarter reflects the strength of long-term commitment. By working consistently with the same schools and communities, we are not only sharing knowledge, we are building relationships, trust, and a deeper culture of conservation.

Thank you for being part of this ongoing journey.