Nicaragua's Nature Stewards: The Junior Rangers

Dear Friend,

In our last update, we mentioned that a record number of junior rangers (over 240!) were enrolled in our program. Since then, our rangers have taken part in global events, workshops and a field trip to the beach. Below are some updates on the program’s activities, all of which were made possible by your generous donations:

• Our junior rangers took part in the City Nature Challenge and, along with other Paso Pacifico volunteers, photographed over 141 species (ranging from plants to fish) in the forests and wetlands of Ostional, Nicaragua. Some of the photographed animals included the American crocodile and a white-nosed coati. You can read more about our participation here.

• The rangers also took part in the semiannual Global Big Day birding challenge. Our 41 volunteer birders spent their time documenting birds from dawn to dusk. We’re proud to share that for the third consecutive time, our team identified the most species (211) out of all the teams! The junior rangers helped boost Nicaragua to 4th place as having observed the most species in Central America.

• In Northern Nicaragua, the rangers held celebratory activities for the macaw after a successful nesting season, thanks to the community and supporters like you. The celebrations included meals made by parents and piñatas for the children. 

• Last week, teachers and rangers held a workshop for the communities of La Salvia and El Rosario about the conservation of limpets, proper disposal of garbage, and recycling in the school and home. The workshop had 128 guests including children and their parents. 

• This week, 31 junior rangers had the opportunity to visit the beach for a life-changing field trip.  For half of these kids, this was their first time visiting the beach in their life, making the hands-on learning experience all the more exciting. 

We wanted to thank you for investing in these children and their education. With your help, our junior rangers are painting a bright future for themselves and the animals around them.

Hi Friends,

This is just a brief update to share the good news that we have a record enrollment in our Jr. Ranger program this year in the Paso del Istmo wildlife corridor in southwestern Nicaragua. Over 240 children have signed up and outdoor lessons are underway each week

We would also like to let you know that  we are enhancing our ocean curriculum to include invertebrates found in the coral reefs and inter-tidal zone as well as cetacea (whales and dolphins), sea turtles, and coastal wetlands. 

The GlobalGiving platform is offering this project the chance to receive matching donations of up 50% for each donation up to $50.  i am asking you to give to help us take advantage of this fantastic offer and to get this large cohort of Jr. Rangers off to a good start through quality curriculum and engaging activities.

Your support has already helped us to support our children with safe, environmental learning opportunities through the pandemic. Please considering donating by midnight EST on Friday March 12th to help us receive matching funding and to help our youngest nature stewards with new opportunities to interact iwth the great outdoors. 

For the kids,

Sarah 

Dear Friend,

During this challenging year, we thank you for supporting the Junior Ranger program in Nicaragua. Since our last update, the rains of the season increased and the once dry landscape turned green. Thankfully, covid cases decreased during this period and so we were able to resume educational activities in small groups.

It was not completely easy. Nicaragua was hit by two major hurricanes (Eta and Iota), and during those weather events, we canceled activities and focused on helping families move to higher ground. Eta caused damage and flooding in many homes, but Iota was less destructive in the far southwest corner of Nicaragua. Fortunately, all of our children were safe.

- In September, children learned about waste and recycling. Then, children participated in Nicaragua's international coastal clean-up along streams and beaches near their homes.  

 - In October we celebrated bats. Children learned about the important things that they do as pollinators, seed dispersers, and controllers of insect pests. They took some time to develop art projects focused on these . 

 - Children also participated in birding observation outings with the adult rangers and through lessons about birds and art projects. Outings included October Big Day where children learned how to use the eBird citizen science platform for recording bird observation.

 - After nearly a week of rains associated with the hurricane Eta, children participated in a listening excercise where they sat and listened to the forest and the sounds of birds and animals, and then wrote down their observations.

- A favorite field trip for the children was a trip to the mangrove estuary in early December where the children learned about the importance of these wetlands to wildlife and to protect the community from storms.

- As the rainy season has come to a close, there is a lot of garbage and debris that has been transported by water. The children finished up the year with one more beach clean-up. 

In our Junior Ranger program, we are once again practicing strict social distancing and outdoor- mask-wearing as reports of Covid in Nicaragua have begun again. 

We are grateful to you for supporting these children as explore their natural world and ways to protect it. 

Sincerely,

Sarah

Dear Friends,

As you know, COVID-19 has impacted lives around the world. In Nicaragua, the virus has been widespread and so we made the decision in April to suspend in-person Junior Ranger activities. However, this has not stopped us from reaching the more than 90 Junior Rangers who are enrolled in the 2020 program.

Here are some of the activites we have carried out since you contributed to our GlobalGiving Junior Ranger program:

- A nature-themed art contest where Junior Rangers created drawings and paintings focused on sea turtles, forests, and wildlife. We were wowed by the artistic talent of the children. 

- A crafting challenge focused on the use of plastic and cardboard waste. Children made art and useful household objects using a dollhouse from used cardboard, doll clothes from fabric scraps, and a toothbrush holder from plastic water bottles. Supporting the children as they explore the issues of pollution will help them to create cleaner, and healthier waterways. 

- In July we began our normal Junior Ranger curriculum, but we are implementing activities remotely. Cell phones are widespread in the rural areas and so we are providing phone credits to the parents so that we may call, and exchange information and instructions. Our educational team led by Anabel Chevez and with support from our female sea turtle rangers, are in regular communication with the children and their parents about the lessons. 

We would also like to share that your support has been a great compliment to resources we raised through our COVID-19 emergency fund. Our Junior Ranger program enables us to get to know the famlies. Some of the children live in difficult economic circumstances made worse by COVID-19 closures. For these families, we have been able to provide supplemental food and supplies during a three month period.  

We hope to be able to soon resume our in-person meetings with the the Junior Rangers in an outdoor space. We will continue to use your donations to support the families and the children in their learning. Thank you for making this possible.

Stay safe and healthy, and thank you again for supporting these children as they learn to care for wildlife and their future.

Warm regards,

Sarah

p.s. I have also included a link to a blog post about the "backyard birding" activity we carried out with the children. These and other socially-distanced activities with the children are keeping them engaged in observing their natural world. Thankyou again! 

Links:

• Blog post on "Backyard birdwatching" activity with Junior Ranger