Hello Tortuga Family !
A little message to share our adventures of these last two weeks !
First of all, the « reforestation of mangroves » on the 21th of April.
What a great day ! We’re heading for the desired area with all the sprouts, the children, the stuff … Let me remind you that mangrove forests are a unique ecosystem and are extremely important for several reasons : it is an area for juveniles, a reservoir of biodiversity, a stabilizer of soils… The trees settled here are perfectly adapted to this salty and muddy environment. Besides, mangrove forest is an area where the production of biomass is at its highest. But with the expansion of human activities, this specific zone is now seriously endangered. Thus, we have to protect it at any cost !
First, we bring the young Panamenians in the forest and help them to plant the sprouts cultivated by the association Proyecto Ecologico Azuelo, and, of course we take the time to appreciate this special environment. Here, the world is upside down : the roots pointing to the sky ! The ground is also covered by little holes made by crabs, and you can hear the birds' melodies. What a great day !
But the activities don’t stop here : two days later we continue with the famous « Dia de la Tierra » (or Earth Day for the non-bilinguals). For those who live in a cave, Earth Day is a wolrdwide event that was created in 1970.
Our journey begins with stretchings and a walk to the beach. Barely arrived, we begin a beach cleanup …. under a smothering heat. The sunburns are here for us ! Despite that, we succeed to gather a correct amount of waste, and what a pleasure to have a clean beach. Then are coming the activities : photography contest, presentation of severeal assosiations, music and of course « Hablas Tortuga de Arena » : we ask the children to build sand turtles, and we try to make the biggest one : we did it !
A week goes by. Tranquility ? Of course not my dear Watson. Our first presentation is coming fast, and as spanish language is still a secret… (at least for two of us, but no names !).
Games, activities, speeches... nothing is left aside. And, finally, the D-day is here : « Feria Cientifica ». That’s a kind of fair where pupils present scientific experiments to their parents and friends : formation of volcanoes or elementary chemical reactions are two examples. Stands are introduced one after the other, and here they are in front of us. Your attention please ! It’s a pleasure to explain what we do. Children are listening carefully, adults too. We organize a little game about the good and bad ways to act when you meet a turlte on the beach : the pupils are overjoyed ! The cornerstone of awareness : little funny games that allow children to be actors and not only spectators. Day’s over ! Talking spanish is exhausting. :)
