Young EcoLeaders of the Brazilian Rainforest

Dear wonderful donors and supporters, 

We hope you are all well and happy, and we can't wait to introduce you to the new face of Young Eco Leaders! 

Here's how it was this week. We wanted the students to learn about the environment in a whole new way, through using their senses. So they started without the use of their eyes, covering them with a scarf - and no cheating! It's a great way to build up self confidence and confidence in one another, as they discovered that, if you can't see, your other senses are sharpened - and you process information through your sense of smell or touch.

The challenge was to walk blindfold down a steep cattle pasture, sensing how hot it is and how the sounds and the scents are different from the forest. Then, removing the blindfold they stopped to look at the great forest in front of them, noticing how diverse it is and how full of sounds and scents. 

Now they could see again, they realized how beautiful everything around them was.They found the forest mysterious and exciting, and began to understand why we must protect it. After that they climbed the trees and played in the forest, and discovered that nature is friendly and not scary, that it can bring happiness and not fear.

We're excited about this years program. Thanks to you we aim to expand our group of young forest champions, helping them understand their forest ecosystem not only with their heads, but also with their hearts. 

rainforest love and so many thanks for making it possible!  You are the best,

Marina and the Young Eco Leaders  

Links:

• https://en.iracambi.com

Good morning, dear donors, and greetings from the rainforest!

We're so excitied to introduce you to our expanded program to include the Youngest EcoLeaders! Our new teacher Marina believes it's never too early to introduce children to the wonders of nature, so this school year we are expanding our program to include the youngest children. And before bringing the children into the rainforest, she is bringing the rainforest into the classroom - proving that there are no limitations to the imagination of our youngest students! 

Here's how it works. The children create a make-believe world where they are free to be whatever they want. One jumps like a frog, another crawls like a snake, another howls like a wolf. (Yes, we do have wolves in the rainforest, but they don't look like the wolves in the North!) The sun shines and then the rain starts to fall gently on the little trees and plants which grow and grow, and provide shelter and food for the animals. It's turning into a real rainforest party.

After this, the animals are called to a meeting where they hear the terrible news. There are people arriving in the area who want to find minerals in the forest, cutting the trees, digging up the earth, and filling the rivers with runoff. What are the animals going to do now? What will happen to the worms in the earth, the monkeys in the trees, the fish in the rivers? Everyone understands that what affects one animal affects all the animals. It's a long discussion, and when it's time for Marina to leave the animals can hardly wait for their next meeting!    

This is just the beginning of this year's school program - because the year only really gets going after Carnaval. But we're delighted, and so are the children. And a big thank you all for your support - we can't tell you often enough that we couldn't do it without you!

lots of rainforest love and we'll tell you more soon! 

Marina and the Youngest Eco Leaders .  

Links:

• Iracambi site