Young EcoLeaders of the Brazilian Rainforest

Hello, dear supporters, and greetings from the rainforest!

Today we want to introduce you to our new group of Young EcoLeaders. And we have some exciting new developments to share. First, since it's never to early to start introducing the children to the wonderful forest area in which they are lucky enough to live, we decided that this season we will be working with a younger group than previously. We opened up our selection to the 9-11 age group, and the response was overwhelming!

Our process of selection is as democratic as we can make it, so we invite the children to write us a letter explaining why they simply must participate in the EcoLeaders program.  And we were bowled over by their curiosity and excitement. They want to know about everything: the forest, the trees, the birds, the animals, the rivers, the way that the ecosystem works, and their place in it. 

These letters are then evaluated jointly by the teachers and the Iracambi team, and this week we hosted the first groups of the  fall season. Yes, it's fall here, and beginning to get a little cooler. And a little calmer, after the green rainy season when everything is bursting with life and you can practically see everything growing.    

Most of our EcoLeaders live in the rural areas, and they are in closer touch with nature than their urban counterparts. As part of the course they'll be studying critical thinking, taking their first steps in rainforest science, and immersing themselves in the forest. Their time at Iracambi will be spent on the forest trails, in the forest nursery, studying hydrology in the rivers, and checking the camera traps to see which animals are visiting us. Their homework will include comparing notes with their family members, learning and valuing the traditional knowledge that has been handed down by their parents and grandparents, and combining it with the scientific knowledge they learn in the field. To know the forest is to love it, and to love it is to understand its value as the source of life, and to become ardent forest champions. 

And that's not all. Before we leave, we want to update you on Pathways to Knowledge, the program we run for high schoolers. Just as it's never to early to share our passion for the forest, it's never too late in the school career to alert students to the  opportunities that are available to them as they begin to navigate their way into their adult life. We had already visited the local technical institute to discuss opportunities for practical training and the skills they can acquire to guide them on their career paths. This week we took them to the local university to discover the possibilities for further study and open their eyes to the prospect of becoming lifelong learners. 

It's never too early and it's never too late, and we want to thank you, dear suporters, for being on this journey with us. Young people everywhere are not only our future, but also, increasingly, our present. And the more young minds that can be inspired by understanding, respecting and valuing this beautiful planet, the more assured will be our common future. 

with love and appreciation from Dayana, the Iracambi team and all our students