Inspiring Future Conservation Leaders
Over the next five years, Gálapagos Conservancy will complement its work in formal education through investments in extracurricular activities that develop a deep connection between young people and the natural environment, while helping them to broaden their understanding of local and global conservation and sustainability issues and providing opportunities to develop leadership skills from mentors and through service-learning projects in the community.
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Project Vision
Reinforce existing extracurricular nature initiatives. Connect students and local, national, and international leaders. Create synergies between after school and school learning. Build skills, knowledge, and connections to place.
Why it Matters
- Many school-age youths in Galápagos come from families that recently migrated from outside of the archipelago. The fact that significant large numbers of residents were not born in the Islands means that many lack a strong “sense of place” and a deep connection with the islands.
- Many national and international leaders in scientists, conservation and business visit or focus their energy and expertise on Galápagos and have much to share with young people in the Islands. However, mechanisms don’t currently exist to foster the exchange of ideas and experiences.
- Galápagos students are learning about real-life conservation and sustainability issues through project-based learning sponsored by their schools, but many would benefit from additional access to mentoring, technical expertise, and modest seed funding to extend these experiences through meaningful service-learning projects in their communities.
- Recent initiatives, most notably students clubs organized by the Galápagos National Park Directorate and youth surf clubs on Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal and Isabela, have made important strides in helping young people to develop a stronger connection to the special place they live, but these and other initiatives need to be strengthened and expanded.
Investing in Experiential Learning
Leadership Seminar Series
Galápagos Conservancy’s Leadership Seminar Series will connect all 1,500 high school students in the Islands with local, national, and international leaders in science, conservation, education, public policy, sustainable business, and public service through a series of virtual seminars focused on relevant sustainability themes identified by student leaders.
Extracurriculars
In conjunction with local partners, the Future Leaders Program will foster extracurricular activities such as more personalized interaction with seminar presenters and other local leaders, access to seed funding for sustainability-focused service projects, mentoring by professionals in areas of specific interest, and participation in virtual and in-person events offered by other organizations that connect youth leaders from around the world.
Experiential Learning
Galápagos Conservancy will help strengthen existing and emerging extracurricular nature activities, such as scuba and sailing that provide meaningful ways to connect young people with the natural environment, foster self-confidence, teamwork, and communication skills, and serve as platforms for hands on learning about practical applications of math and science.
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