Environmental education is a permanent and necessary process through which people acquire greater awareness, knowledge, attitudes, skills, evaluation capacity, and participation for the generation of positive changes in their environment. One of the first steps to reconnect with nature is observation through inquiry, questioning, and reflection.
In order to strengthen the practical skills of local environmental educators, Marley Peifer, a naturalist with experience in the practice of nature journaling and its teaching in tropical Latin American countries, conducted a series of workshops on Nature Journaling as a tool for environmental education during October and November. Nature journaling encourages flexible learning by recording observations in a creative way, integrating drawings, notes, and numbers, and allowing for the exploration and deepening of particular interests. It starts with three powerful questions: What do I observe? What do I wonder? What does it remind me of?
“I lead a river conservation community project, and we periodically conduct community outreach activities where I hope to apply the knowledge gained in the workshop.”
A total of 47 local environmental educators were trained at the Las Cruces and La Selva Research Stations, as well as at the OTS Office in San José, Costa Rica and the University of Costa Rica’s (UCR) Butterfly Garden, with support from the UCR Environmental Management Unit. Participating organizations included Brigada Guardianes del Bosque, the National System of Conservation Areas’ (SINAC) Biological Corridors Program, Los Quetzales National Park, San Bosco de Sabalito Water Observatory, Osa Conservation, professors and tourism students from the Sabalito Professional Technical College (CTP), Guarumo Ecological Restoration, Soldanza, the Municipality of La Union, La Libertad Park, the State University of Distance Education’s (UNED) Environmental Education Center, Museo de Oro, AECOGUAPA, Costa Abeja, Soldanza, Siempre Verde Association, EPI, and others.
“I was fascinated with this workshop; thank you so much for the opportunity! I hope to apply it in my classes of flora and fauna for groups of twelfth grade students with Rural Tourism specialties”
We appreciate the support of the stations for logistical support and for collaborations significantly strengthening experiences in environmental education to achieve healthy ecosystems and resilient communities. It is important to invest in transformative learning so that people may be multipliers of knowledge in their various contexts.