Environmental awareness with children and youth from the "little ornithologists" club

Abstract

The program "Conserving Priority Sites for Migratory Waterbirds in Ecuador," led by the Aves y Conservación Foundation, successfully established the "Little Ornithologists" Club in April 2023. The club consists of children and youth who previously participated in the vacation courses "Fall in Love with Nature," held from March to April 2022 until 2024. These courses covered topics such as biology, habitat, migration, threats, and conservation initiatives, aligned with the environmental education manual "Let’s Celebrate the Birds of Ecuador" and the educators' guide "Let’s Discover Shorebirds." Between 2022 and 2024, we conducted three vacation programs, sensitizing 80 children and youth aged 7 to 14 years. The participants showed great interest in all the activities, with playful activities, crafts, and observation walks being the most popular. However, certain activities revealed preferences among age groups; younger children (7–10 years) were more imaginative and performed better in artistic activities, while older youth (11–14 years) showed more interest in scientific activities. Currently, 40 children and youth interested in birds are part of the club. They have created murals using recycled materials, participated in beach clean-ups, engaged in playful workshops, gone on field trips, participated in activities related to Global Big Day, and taken part in public events to share their learnings. Our efforts aim to promote respect for birds and nature among the youngest, contributing to the development of sensitive and knowledgeable generations regarding biodiversity conservation.