Education Brazil Project #17660

Young EcoLeaders of the Brazilian Rainforest

by Iracambi

Project Report | Nov 3, 2026
Another generation of EcoLeaders has graduated. Let's train more!

By Guilherme | Comms Coordinator

New EcoLeaders ready to take action!

Hello there, dear supporters and donors,

We have some news that made our hearts very full: our Young EcoLeaders have graduated!

On October 10, we celebrated with speeches from Binka, Robin and Dayana, certificates and medals for every graduate, and plenty of games and laughter. Watching these kids walk up to receive their certificates, we couldn’t help thinking about how far they have come. The same children who once thought worms were weird now know that soil is alive and that everything in the forest is connected, including them.

Along the way, they explored forest trails, sat in circles to share what they learned, watched the creek up close, planted seeds and, yes, played a lot. Because for kids, learning and playing go hand in hand, and that is exactly how they learn to love nature. We even caught them making “ninja jutsu” moves while tossing native tree seeds into the air. Restoring the forest has never looked so fun.

Now they carry that knowledge back to their families and communities as young environmental leaders. And it is all possible thanks to you.

So here is a little secret: the forest’s future leaders are growing up right now, and you are part of how they grow.

Our year-end campaign is called Trees Are Cool. So Are You. On December 1, we will join Giving Tuesday on GlobalGiving, and donations that day will receive matching funds, so your gift can go even further. Every donation helps us keep educating young people and planting the forest they will inherit.

Here is how you can help:

Mark your calendar for December 1.
Give on that day through our GlobalGiving page
Spread the word to friends, family and colleagues.
Use the hashtag #TreesAreCoolSoAreYou when you share the campaign, so we can find you and say thank you.

We will remind you as the date gets closer. Until then, tell everyone you know!

Thank you for helping us grow the next generation of forest guardians. Between us, we are getting it done.

With love and appreciation,
Guilherme and the Iracambi team

A little play to see what the're learned!

A memory game with the native seeds

Planting a tree to symbolize their formation

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Oct 6, 2026
OMG! All my fault - SORRY!

By Binka | International Relations

Getting down and dirty in the soil

Hello there, dear supporters and donors,

I can't BELIEVE how late I am with this update, please forgive me.

No excuses, but life has been happening. You know how that goes, right? I've been on protracted sick leave, and when that happens there's extra work for everybody. But I'm happy to say that all is well now - thanks for asking! While I was off the team covered their regular jobs, but inevitably a few things got overlooked, and one of them was our letters from the field. Please accept our deepest apologies!

So here's a taste of what's been going on with our education program since we last spoke.

First there was our amazing visit to China to participate in a rainforest conference, and catch up with our partner organization Good to Nature. We're planning an exchange visit next year for schoolchildren from Shanghai, and this gave rise to interesting discussions on the different educational approaches in China and the West. Stay tuned as the conversation continues and we craft a way to bring together the best of both systems.

Meanwhile back in the forest what have our EcoLeaders been up to?

Here's one of our challenges. We always think of today's kids as being responsible for the future. But...

How can children with little to no direct contact with nature become environmental champions?

That's something we've been tackling head on. The kids may think that worms are weird. They may think that lettuce comes from the local store. So we have to let them find out for themselves.

Worms are cool. Soil is alive. Plants talk to one another through chemical substances in the air and specalized fungi in their roots. Everything is connected and that includes them. When they understand that, everything changes.

They learn about the weather, the water, the whole interconnected web of life. They learn to slow down, to observe, to listen to the sounds of the forest. They learn that everything has its own rhythm. They plant lettuce, learn to wait until it grows, and take it back to their families.

These are some of the most important lessons anyone can ever learn. Thank you for joining us on this journey!

with love and appreciation,

Binka Dayana, Gui and the Iracambi team

Planting

The harvest

Taking them home

I planted them!

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Jul 12, 2026
Learning through Nature, even in Winter

By Dayana and Guilherme | Young EcoLeaders Coordinator and Commun. Coord.

The high school group observing the trees

Winter has arrived in the Atlantic Forest, bringing cool mornings and crisp mountain air. But that certainly didn't slow down our Young EcoLeaders!

This month, we welcomed a new high school group to Iracambi for a very special experience. Accompanied by photographers, the students explored the forest from a different perspective. Beyond hiking and observing nature, they were encouraged to look creatively at the landscape, discovering beauty, details, and stories through photography. It was wonderful to see them connecting with the forest not only through their feet, but also through their imagination.

Despite the chilly weather, the enthusiasm never faded. After spending the day learning in the forest, many students couldn't resist jumping into the pond! Their laughter and excitement reminded us that meaningful connections with nature are often joyful, spontaneous, and unforgettable. The feedback from both students and teachers was incredibly positive.

Our Young EcoLeaders also continued their regular classes, building on the previous lesson about native plants and forest flora. This time, they got their hands dirty by creating their very first vegetable gardens.

For many of them, it was also their first close encounter with earthworms, amphibians, and other small creatures that are essential to healthy ecosystems. Some arrived feeling nervous, but by the end of the activity, curiosity had replaced fear. These small moments of discovery help build confidence, respect for biodiversity, and a lifelong connection with the natural world.

A Special Opportunity to Multiply Your Impact

As we prepare for the next planting season and continue inspiring new generations of forest guardians, we'd love your support.

From July 15, 10:00 AM EDT to July 16, 10:00 AM EDT, GlobalGiving will run a special matching campaign, and donations made during this 24-hour period will be eligible for bonus matching funds.

If you've been thinking about supporting Iracambi, this is the best time to do it. Giving during the campaign means your donation can go even further helping us restore more Atlantic Forest, welcome more students, and create even more life-changing experiences in nature.

Please remember: only donations made between July 15 at 10:00 AM EDT and July 16 at 10:00 AM EDT will be eligible for the bonus funding.

Thank you for growing this forest, and this new generation of environmental leaders with us.

YoungEcoleaders getting their hands dirty

Getting to know an earthworm

They're not afraid of frogs anymore!

Jumping into the pond

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