The Galapagos Conservation Trust not only raises funds for the Islands, but also awareness. And where better to do this than in the classroom? Our Tortoise Club for Schools is a scheme which has been running for the past four years. Since then the Club has gone from strength to strength with the loads of classes signed up as members learning about the importance of conservation as a whole through the inspirational creatures of Galapagos. The interactive scheme equips teachers with all the information they need along with fun materials to really get the children interested, such as the 'adopt a tortoise' pack received upon enrollment to prove that they are supporting a Galapagos Giant Tortoise at the Breeding Centre in Galapagos. They can follow the progress of the hatchlings until they are released back into the wild. Schools are also encouraged to host their own Tortoise Day. GCT can help to arrange the involvement of experts who teach about tortoise husbandry and the importance of protecting their Giant overseas relatives! Tortoise Club for Schools membership is included in your booking.
The teacher or group leader will receive a teaching pack which includes: Amongst other you will then receive regular updates throughout the year on top of your subscription to the bi-annual Discover Galapagos newsletter. As members you can also enter our annual Tortoise Club competition and we can also help you to arrange your own Tortoise Day at your school or group!
Day 5: In the morning you will visit a local school in Puerto Ayora. Steppes Schools is able to create a link to this school before you visit so the children will feel at once at home. The children have time to spend with the pupils of the school and interact with their morning. Later you will visit the most import recycling project supported by the students of Puerto Ayora-Santa Cruz Island. Recycling Project: The population growth that the Galapagos Islands have faced in the last decades translates into an increase in generation and accumulation of waste. However, until recently, the waste produced by the community was taken to a dump with no treatment whatsoever. Through joint efforts with other colleague operators, the foundation set up and manages the "Fabricio Valverde Environmental Centre" in the most populated town of Galapagos, Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz Island (approximately 12,000 inhabitants). It is here that 40% of the waste materials generated in Santa Cruz are processed. They are now aiming at 70%. Under the leadership of the Municipality of Santa Cruz and its Mayor, and the participation of the Galapagos National Park, a system for classified and segregated disposal of domestic garbage has been implemented in the town of Puerto Ayora. Fabricio Valverde Environmental Centre: All organic waste is turned into compost which is then used as fertilizer in the agricultural lands of Santa Cruz Island. Selector belts segregate plastic, glass and cardboard refuse. Special machines crush plastic and glass; the latter serves as raw material for manufacturing paving stones used on sidewalks by the Municipality of Santa Cruz. Crushed plastic and cardboard are transported to the continent. In order for this work to become sustainable, it is fundamental that native Galapagos children and those visiting the Archipelago understand the importance of recycling. For this reason, the Interpretation Centre was created at the Environmental Park; it educates visitors concerning the damages that plastics and other wastes cause to the environment and wildlife of the Galapagos. Education and Sponsorships: Education is the basis to achieve long-term results. The Foundation’s projects aim to involve the local population in order to create community-based solutions with a conservation vision. The Foundation provides financial support to local students who have won scholarships to study programs in areas such as organic farming, sustainable agriculture and other related careers. Their compromise is to return to Galapagos and dedicate their efforts to organic and sustainable horticultural projects with the local farmers. Environmental Education at local schools: In order to consolidate and reinforce the educational recycling campaign, the Foundation together with the National Park is designing a number of workshops for teachers, additional to visits to the Interpretation Centre of the Fabricio Valverde Environmental Centre. Moreover, Fundación Galápagos coordinates educational cruise programs for students and parents to the various islands, in order for them to become aware of the valuable wildlife of the Archipelago.
Day 7: Since April 2006, the College National Galapagos Culinary Programme that was subsequently created by two pioneering local entrepreneurs, is preparing 30 local students for a career in the hospitality industry. In daily classes, the students are not just learning how to cook. They learn about safety standards, improving English language skills and food culture. Possibly most importantly, they also learn which local fish can be sustainably caught, and which can't. Not only is the programme geared towards making them valuable additions to the local labour pool, but the course is also aimed at getting the message out that the island's resources must not be taken for granted. The Ecuadorian education system: Education is widely available and easily accessible to Galapagos families of all socio-economic backgrounds. However, the education provided throughout Ecuador tends to be very general in nature and focuses primarily on administrative skills. The Culinary School picks up where the Ecuadorian state education stops. By including a technical component to their education, high school students will graduate with immediately employable skills. These skills provide them with an opportunity to qualify for employment in the growing Galapagos tourism industry. Your school students can interact today by meeting with local students and debating about the local environmental challenges before returning to the hotel.