Nicaragua's Nature Stewards: The Junior Rangers

Dear Friend,

Thanks to your support for the Junior Ranger program, we celebrated seventy-two young people and their graduation from this environmental education program in Nicaragua. For over a year, the children attended hands-on environmental lessons at least twice a month, observed scientists monitoring wildlife like migratory birds, and participated in community service events like clean-ups and tree plantings. 

We are so proud of these kids and also very grateful to people like you who have helped us to sustain this program for over a decade.

Yet, this note is not without mixed emotions. After twelve years of running the Junior Ranger program in Nicaragua we are suspending the official program in that country at the request of the government there. We want you to know that through your support, Paso Pacifico docents in Nicaragua will continue their environmental outreach in 2024 and 2025 by leading field trips, community workshops, and inviting children to participate in our citizen science events. 

We are now working toward the launch of the Junior Ranger program in 2024 in communities of the Paso del Golfo Wildlife Corridor located in Eastern El Salvador. For this program expansion, we are asking you for your help. Please consider contributing to the Junior Ranger program in El Salvador.

If you have any questions about the Junior Ranger program, please reach out to sarah@pasopacifico.org

For the children,

Sarah

Dear Friend,

Our Junior Rangers and their bright energy and deep empathy are the future we need. Your support is giving them opportunities to explore topics on wildlife and help them to enjoy nature exploration, scientific learning, and artistic exploartion as part of the educational process. Thank you so much.

Leading up to the end of the school year we spent several weeks delving deep into parrots. From parakeets and parrots to macaws, the children learned about these intelligent birds and the role they play in dispersing seeds and thereby helping the regrowth of forests. They participated in birding hikes and used binoculars to identify birds.

As part of their environmental education lessons, they wrote poems which they read outloud to their classmates. They also made posters with original art that included messages to raise awareness. Their artistic efforts were part of the Mesoamerican Parrot Festival, a collaborative event that virtually brings together dozens of organizations across Central America in celebration of parrots and their conservation. 

We closed out the year with an end of the school year celebration where we awarded Jr. Rangers recognitions for their participation.

We are proud of these children and grateful to you for supporting them. 

Thank you.

Gratefully yours,

Sarah