Kids as Forest Guardians in Rural Drake Bay

“Look, I found one!”

With that excited exclamation, a group of children broke the silence that had settled over the river. Just minutes earlier, they had been searching among rocks and leaves, not quite knowing what they might find. When the first macroinvertebrate appeared, everyone gathered around with curiosity to examine it through a magnifying glass and, later, discover its tiny details under a microscope. What at first seemed like just a “little river bug” soon became the starting point for a conversation about water health, ecosystems, and the importance of protecting the place they call home.

It is a moment we will not easily forget, and one that captures what we experienced throughout May and June. During these two months, 235 children—150 students from 11 schools and 85 participants from 4 community environmental groups—had the opportunity to learn through exploration and direct contact with nature. They discovered how macroinvertebrates can be used to monitor the health of a river, built pollinator gardens, learned more about the biodiversity of their region, and participated in an educational field trip to Caño Island, where they had the opportunity to marvel at the richness of the marine ecosystems that are part of their home.

Beyond the activities themselves, what mattered most was seeing their curiosity grow. Every field trip sparked new questions, every discovery led to conversations with classmates and families, and every experience strengthened the connection between the children and the natural environment around them. These small moments of wonder are what plant the seeds of respect, knowledge, and commitment that the next generation will need to care for the forests, rivers, and ocean of Drake Bay.

Each of these moments was made possible by people who believe in the power of environmental education to transform communities. Today, those seeds are already beginning to grow in 235 children who see nature through new eyes and understand that they, too, can play a role in protecting it.