Stewards of the Chaparral / (Centinelas del chaparral) (available in Spanish)
The Beach, A Meeting Point / La playa, punto de encuentro
What to Do With Trash / Qué hacer con la basura
The Wonders of Seeds 1 / Las maravillas de las semillas I
The Wonders of Seeds 2 / Las maravillas de las semillas II
We All Take Care of Water / Todos cuidamos el agua
The Ecological Consumer / El consumidor ecológico
Compost / La composta
Reforestation / Reforestación
Water for Domestic Use / El agua de uso doméstico
Stewards of the Chaparral (Centinelas del chaparral) engages teachers and their students in Tecate, Baja California, and neighboring communities in activities that foster learning about the biodiversity of their region. Conservation International and other conservation organizations consider this area to be a biodiversity hotspot, meaning that a high number of species are found there and nowhere else and are threatened by human activities. With this curriculum, students learn ecosystem concepts through a mind map that they apply to the local chaparral ecosystem. They then go on a field trip through the interpretative paths of Fundación La Puerta’s Parque del Profesor where they use observation sheets that guide them to a deeper appreciation of the flora and fauna that inhabit the chaparral. Further instruction helps students to understand the ecological significance of wildfires and human impact on the area and fosters a sense of caring that can lead to stewardship.
Through direct contact, participants of this workshop gain an appreciation of their local beach ecosystem. They begin by engaging in a grounding activity that sets the context of the beach related to the Baja California peninsula, Tijuana and the Tijuana River Watershed. Continuing with interactive lessons that feature ecosystem principles and human interaction at the beach, participants gain respect for beach flora and fauna, as well as the need to keep the beach clean. The objectives of the workshop include developing stewardship leadership skills in youth.
Written by Tierra MyA, Educadores Ambientales, Ensenada, BC
Students learn about waste management through hands-on activities to discover the difference between trash and waste and what can be done to dispose, reduce and recycle waste materials.
Written by Tierra MyA, Educadores Ambientales, Ensenada, BC
Students learn about the importance of seeds for plant preservation, as well as the different ways plants disperse their seeds. They also learn about the difficult process native plants go through to germinate their seeds, and how native people in the Baja California region use seeds.
This program carries a message about domestic water use and conservation to community members. Participants learn about where water comes from, how to ensure that drinking water is clean and how to conserve water. Training includes hands-on activities to demonstrate how much water is used for various activities, and a “water meter” is used to measure how much water is consumed at home. This workshop is designed for community volunteers.
Did you know that if Planet Earth were the shape of an egg, all the water available to us to drink would be a drop on the tip? “We All Care for Water” is a grassroots community program developed in collaboration with Fundación Esperanza de México (FEM). We created a spiral-bound flip chart that promotoras use to make presentations to families in their communities. Important information includes the source of Tijuana’s domestic water, water conservation, the importance of water for human health and water-borne diseases and how to prevent them.