Young EcoLeaders of the Brazilian Rainforest

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