Belize Audubon Society's Education Program
Environmental education is a growing experience. The Belize Audubon Society plants seeds of knowledge in schools, communities, and visitor centers across the nation. We provide quality environmental programs and services such as Nature Schools, teacher workshops, awareness campaigns, environment camps, school and community presentations, publications, and special events to nurture growing minds. These opportunities develop into the values, skills, attitudes, and commitment needed to address environment and development issues. We hope to inspire a sense of respect and responsibility for the natural environment among all Belizeans.
Education is at the heart of environmentally responsible development. At the Belize Audubon Society, we believe that environmental problems can only be effectively solved if there is a clear understanding of the environment and its processes. The Society currently works with all audiences, including children and adults, as we believe that while it is important to shape the mind set of our future generations, the current adult population should also be a key target of environmental education as they are impacting the environment now.
Educating Communities Bordering Protected Areas
It is Belize Audubon Society's strategy to encourage the involvement of local communities in the management of our protected areas. In our efforts to build capacity among community members, enabling them to actively participate in protected areas management, the Society has facilitated the training of residents of buffer communities. The Society offers training in basic skills such as literacy, leadership, advocacy education for sustainability and planning as well as training in sustainable resource management and business planning. Communities participate in environmental awareness and sensitization in basic principles of conservation and are educated to the many benefits accrued from Belize's protected areas system network. This heightened awareness of the environment is meant to build a sense of stewardship among buffer community members for the protected areas. The skill building workshops are aimed at decreasing dependencies on the resources within the boundaries of the protected areas, decreasing the impacts of illegal incursions and exploitation of resources.
School Education Outreach
Belize Audubon Society's Education
for Sustainability Program contains hands-on activities that are
used to develop critical thinking skills and to challenge students
to find solutions to environmental problems. BAS educational kits
on different environmental topics help teachers fulfill their curriculum
goals while bringing fun and enjoyment to learning about the natural
world.
School Visits
BAS has a cadre of enthusiastic volunteers in the environmental education program who are able to give presentations on environmental topics in primary schools. Thanks to these volunteers, hundreds of school children from around the country now have a greater awareness of the Belizean environment. Slide presentations on Belize's natural heritage are most popular. The Society places its resources and technical expertise at the disposal of primary, secondary, and tertiary school educators and continues to work towards the increased environmental consciousness of our Belizean youths. Through its young environmentalist program, BAS supports the activities of environmental clubs and newsletters.
Visiting Our Parks and Educational Centers
There is so much to learn and enjoy at our protected areas. It is the aim of the Society to develop our protected areas and visitor centers as centers of environmental educational excellence where young people can enjoy the wonders of nature while deciphering its secrets. Each year, the Belize Audubon Society welcomes hundreds of students through their gates of our protected areas. The Belize Audubon Society welcomes all groups of students. Contact the Education Manager (education(at)belizeaudubon.org) for more information and reservations or visit our main office at 12 Fort Street.
Our Environmental Education program is made possible through the support of friends like you. Show your pledge of support today .