Reports from the Bioregional Education
Classes of the
Eco-Ecuador Project
Index to 2008 Reports, Set 2 (May 14-23, 2008)
Note: Click on photos for larger images
Bioregionalism Education
Summer Session, 2008
May 14 & 16, 2008
We met in the city’s central Manuel Nevarez Park as usual on
Wednesday. The objective of this class was for each student to draw their
own map from scratch of what they think the Bahia bioregion looks like.
Students at work in their 'classroom'. |
I began by asking the students
questions about what composes a bioregion. I asked Joao to name a
characteristic of bioregion. She replied, "The flora."
Estefano said "The fauna and the soil." Carlos
David said "The landscape and watersheds."
And Gustavo said "The climate."
Once we had named all the characteristics from memory, we
opened up our booklets to work. |
To draw the map we started by marking the cardinal
point, North, on a sheet of paper. I asked the students where the sun
rises and where the sun sets to determine East and West, and from there
estimate the direction North. Once the students had identified these
points, they quickly began drawing out their bioregional maps.
After finishing their maps, we all came to some
conclusions about our region, including identifying all of the bioregional
characteristics in each map.We ended class with a game called "The
Crab" where pairs of kids raced each other with two of their feet
tied together.
On Friday we took a long, circular hike from Bahia to
the suburb of Leonidas Plaza
along Río Chone, over a hill to the ocean and returned back to Bahia
along the beach. We were joined by bioregional alumni Alan and Mathew.
Before leaving I told the kids that I had been informed that a seal was
recently spotted at Punta Bellaca along the beach where we were headed and
if we were lucky, we'd get to see it.
Carlos David, Joao, and Camelita walking from Leonidas Plaza to
the beach |
As we walked, we identified local
tree species: Ceibo, Moyuyo, and Bototillo, among others. We saw
watersheds in the hillsides. From the hilltop we climbed over to
head to the beach, and we could look back and see how all of the
smaller sheds eventually lead to the estuary of Río Chone. |
Enjoying the beach |
Once we reached the beach, we
observed the ocean. Gustavo spotted something moving in the water
and asked what it was. I told him it was a school of fish swimming
by. Often times Dolphins follow these fish in hopes of catching
some food. |
The kids played games on the beach and also rested
from all the walking. Then we continued our tour.
We saw more watersheds draining directly to the
beach. Frank identified exposed soil in the cliffside. The students took
one last photo on the beach before walking back into Bahia. Before
dispersing to their houses, I left them with some homework, drawing
another map, this time of a miniature bioregion, based on the neighborhood
they live in.
The Bioregionalistas with Bahia in the background. |
|
- Ramon
Translated by Clay.
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Bioregionalism Education
Summer Session, 2008
May 21 & 23, 2008
Everyone arrived in the park on Wednesday afternoon,
including a Planet Drum volunteer from Japan, who introduced herself as
Fuki. I asked Frank for his homework. He turned in the map of the miniature
bioregion of his neighborhood. He lives in San Vicente and drew trees,
bird nests, his house, and everything he could identify in his
neighborhood. He also mentioned that there is a lot of dust in the
neighborhood right now because they are doing work on the roads.
Then we split into two workgroups, one led by Fuki
and class assistant Roberto, the other by me and Raisa. Each group had to
read and then discuss possible steps to take to protect our bioregion.
Some of the themes were: food, water, waste, and used water
After reading in groups, we reformed as one large
class. The first group had reached the conclusions:
that we should consume healthy food, but they did not know exactly
where these foods come from, or what kinds of chemicals they may be
consuming from the food they eat. They also talked about the large problem
of potable water that persists in Bahia and San Vicente. And they
mentioned that the beaches are contaminated from the shrimp industry.
Group Two said that there should be a better way to
take advantage of the wastes produced by the city, such as compost
production and paper recycling. About water they said that they must use
less water in the bathroom so as not to waste it. They also said that used
waters must be properly managed and not directly dumped into the ocean.
For homework they had to pick up trash that they had
produced during the week.
Kirk and Camelita walking to the greenhouse. |
On Friday we visited the Planet Drum
greenhouse. |
Estefano in the greenhouse. |
When we arrived, we entered and I
explained that all of trees there are for planting during the next
winter. I showed them the seedbeds, where we plant seeds and wait
for them to germinate. |
Bioregional class taking at break while visiting the greenhouse |
The students asked me about the
organic waste, so I showed them the where compost is produced. The
compost comes from decomposed organic waste and is full of
nutrients for the trees. This compost is used to make soil which
goes into the three-liter bottles with the trees. |
- Ramon
Translated by Clay.
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