Elementary Students

NJP collaborated with Naturalia to develop a Spanish-language wildlife school curriculum that is both relevant and engaging. We have further donated materials pertinent to local biodiversity and conservation to the schools nearest the Northern Jaguar Reserve. And we have sponsored Sahuaripa-area teachers to attend workshops conducted by the American Association of Environmental Educators.

Naturalia has most recently held school workshops for elementary students in the municipalities of Sahuaripa, Arivechi, and Bacanora. These workshops have highlighted the local nesting pairs of bald eagle as ambassadors to understanding the uniqueness of these nests and the threats to their preservation. As it turned out, a teacher in Bacanora owned the ranch with the bald eagle nest being discussed, and not only was he thrilled, he happily pledged to continue protecting it from poachers.

Students in Sahuaripa have been so enthusiastic about these environmental education programs that they gave Naturalia’s Juan Carlos Bravo a new name, affectionately calling him “Jaguarlos.” No similar monikers have surfaced from students in the U.S., yet we have found glowing interest from school children who have participated in our presentations on jaguar conservation in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. Some of these young dynamos have even taken initiative in “adopting” acres of the reserve through our Save-a-Spot for Jaguars program.