Learning outdoors for children of the favelas

Living so close to nature in the Atlantic Rainforest provides anyone who visits SINAL a deep appreciation and respect for nature. There is an abundance of trees, fruit, animals and plants that have infinite possibilities to help children create lasting connections to the natural world. SINAL has worked to create connections with nature by engaging children in projects that utilize the abundance of nature. 

Our final semester of the year had children experimenting with materials on the property such as bamboo, young fruit trees, and local produce such as mangos. Lessons were centered around local materials that are in abundance on the farm. For example a big part of Brazilian culture for children is building and flying your own kite. Thus a lesson was dedicated to learning about bamboo, how to sustainably collect the material, and then using the bamboo to build kites. Later during the mango season children were taught about the mango tree, how to collect mangos using local bambo fruit pickers, and making fresh and healthy juice out of them along with other fresh fruit produce on the farm. Furthermore children were given opportunities to learn about cultivating plants in our Childrens Garden. Concepts such as caring for plants, growing them from local seeds, and harvesting the vegetables were all demonstrated. 

SINAL looks forward to a happy and productive 2014 by building on our already successful program and showing children even more of the abundant nature that surrounds us. Thank you for all your donations and allowing our program to continue. 

Love from SINAL

With our second semester well underway SINAL for Children has started several unique projects to educate and share knowledge on planting trees, appreciating nature, caring for plants and gardens, and working with natural materials such as mud and bamboo.

SINAL uses a living laboratory of the Atlantic Rainforest to build lasting love and appreciation for nature. On a regular basis children walk through fully forested sections of the Rainforest to learn about and appreciate the complexities of plant and animal life within. Children are working to help restore a local wetland that is our goal to one day become as ecologically diverse as other parts of the Atlantic Rainforest. This 2.4 acre space has become a place where children plant trees, build trails to help others enjoy and appreciate the area, and create art to visualize the future of the space.

Children are also learning about growing their own food in our very own gardens. We have started with seeds of their favourite plants to watch them grow through their full life cycle. Education for all aspects of growing food is shown such as composting, enriching soil, and caring for plants from planting seeds to harvesting.  With an abundance of natural materials on the property kids have also had the experience of working with local, sustainable building materials such as bamboo and clay. With their help we have made a mud oven, kites with bamboo, and soon will be making a composting toilet with bamboo!

We thank everyone for their contributions and look forward to receiving your love and support in the future.

SINAL for Children

Links:

• SINAL for Children Facebook Page