This past weekend, Ylang Ylang Beach Resort and El Sano Banano Village Hotel and Restaurant sponsored two groups of local high school students to go to the Reserva Karen Mogensen for an educational program on nature conservation. The two groups of students came separately for two, one night stays at the reserve. The first group was 25 students and 3 teachers from the Colegio Cobano and Paquera. The second group was 26 students and 4 teachers from Colgeio Jicaral. Also, there were two additional volunteers, making for a total of 60 participants in the program. They planted trees on the endangered species list, listened to lectures, had discussions, and created materials to take back to their classrooms and homes.
The students participated in lectures about the importance of our forests and the benefits they have for us and wildlife. They also learned of the great damage that can come of us destroying our forests. They learned about the founders of the National park system in Costa Rica, Karen Mogensen, Nicolas Wessberg, Mario Boza and Alvaro Ugalde who were pioneers in conserving Costa Rica’s forests.
The students also spent a good deal of time working in small groups and discussing ways in which they can make a difference in their own communities. They brainstormed a number of ideas that they can implement at home and in their schools. They were each given a wildlife guide to take home with them and used them throughout the program to identify animals. Over the course of both programs, the students assisted in planting 1,000 young endangered trees in the reserve.
The program was fun, educational, and hard work, thanks to a number of people who helped make the program happen. Wildlife guides were donated to each student by Rainforest Publications. The bus transportation to and from the reserve was donated by Transportes Cobano. Lectures and programs were designed by Patricia Slump and Luis Mena. The owners of Ylang Ylang Beach Resort and El Sano Banano Village Hotel, Lenny Iacono and Patricia Slump generously donated their time, knowledge, and financed this program.
Forest conservation in incredibly important in Costa Rica and we hope that by teaching and instilling these values in Costa Rica’s young people, we can continue to preserve our beautiful country.
Pictured below are the students planting trees in the reserve and learning from their wildlife guides.
Reservations and more information about the reserve:
Reserva Karen Mogensen
P.O. BOX: 25-5353, Jicaral, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Telephone: (506) 26-50-06-07 Fax: (506) 26-50-02-01
E-mail: asepalec@racsa.co.cr Website: www.asepaleco.com
