On January 28-29, 2011 a group of future Costa Rican leaders gathered in Bahia Ballena, Osa for an environmental leadership workshop entitled ALA (Alianza de Liderazgo Ambiental), Environmental Leadership Alliance in English. The group consisted of 18 young adults, ranging from 14 to 24 years of age, from ten different communities across Costa Rica.
This two-day workshop was organized and hosted by Peace Corps Costa Rica, with the help of Grupo SURF, and was the culmination of six interactive learning sessions led by Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) covering environmental themes such as: water, soil climate change, and biodiversity. The learning sessions were a prerequisite for each participant, during which they utilized photography, video, podcasts, and blogs to develop a multimedia project that focused on the different environmental themes.
Workshop Activities
Over the course of the two days, the youth participated in:
- A walking community tour of Bahia Ballena, guided by Grupo SURF staff, where they learned about local environmental issues facing the community, environmental projects and actions undertaken by local youth and businesses, the usefulness of utilizing tools such as GPS, and the importance of protecting the natural resources of the community.
- Lectures on environmental stewardship and outdoor activities pertaining to leadership and personal development.
- A guided boat tour of the Marino Ballena National Park where the participants learned about the importance of this protected area, both in terms of biological importance and as a tourist attraction that stimulates the community’s local economy. For many participants this tour was also an introduction to the marine ecosystem, the threats facing it, and its interconnectedness with inland activities.
- Surfing lessons, which stressed the challenging nature of the activity which requires self-confidence, persistence, and determination in order to prevail and ride the waves, as well as one’s connection with the ocean.
- Group presentations about their communities and the environmental issues that each of their communities face.
- A tour of an ecolodge where they learned about the environmentally sustainable practices of one of Costa Rica’s leading lodges, and how many of these activities can be implemented in their own homes and communities.
Purpose of the Environmental Leadership Workshop
Through these activities participating youth developed a greater self-awareness of their individual role in the conservation of their community’s natural resources, a higher sense of responsibility towards their environment, and an increased confidence in their ability to shape the future.
In addition to the lectures and tours, the environmental leadership workshop is also a valuable experience in itself that is not typically available to Costa Rican youth; and is intended to motivate and empower these individuals to become active citizens within their communities and provide an environmentally conscious approach to their community’s development.
With the completion of numerous learning sessions and the leadership workshop, participants return to their communities where they will be completing a service learning project with an environmental focus.
Local Support
Local businesses that helped make the tours and activities possible for the ALA workshop included, Bahia Aventuras, Hotel Bahia Azul, Bodhi Surf, and La Cusinga Lodge.
Tags: Community Projects, Conservation Projects, Environmental activities, Grupo SURF, Peace Corps
Thanks Gibran for all your support. The youth loved the activities -especially the surfing!
Thanks Travis for all your help organizing the event (and with a baby on the way). You’re superheroes!
Hola Travis,
A link to this blog was on an e-mail I received from Friends of Costa Rica. I’m forwarding it to my son and daughter. They might be interested in visiting you next time they’re here.
It was good meeting you at the COS conference a few weeks ago. Hopefully my wife and I can make it down your way to visit someday soon.
L
Loren,
Thanks for spreading the good word! I wrote you an email to your gmail account shortly after the COS conference, but never heard back from you! Glad to be re-connected. Keep in touch and let me know when you will be in our area! Cafecito and a surf? Cheers!
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