School of Nature Expeditions for Kid of Utila!!
Donation protected
Kanahau School of Nature is the environmental education program created by Kanahau Utila Research and Conservation Facility. It aims to become a learning center without walls, turning the different ecosystems of Utila, Honduras into the "classrooms" where children learn about ecosystem functions and services, flora and fauna, go on nature hikes, biology expeditions and basically return to nature. What better classroom than nature itself?
It is targeted at all those curious children from 10 to 16 years of age wanting to learn, get dirty and have fun. We do believe kids are the future, if we teach the younger generations to love their environment we will protect our island in the long run.
"Angus, holding a Ctenosaura bakeri, the endemic Utila Spinny Tail Iguana"
HISTORY
The project started in March 2019 with a group of 6 kids and we are now down to 12 students, but we are aiming to fund bigger activities to include more kids that are interested!
We specifically want to fund a snorkeling expedition to teach them about coral reef health and it's importance, a kayaking tour to rock harbour, a bioluminescence kayak tour and a camping trip to the beach!
You can check out more about Kanahau and School of Nature through our social media profiles:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KURCF/
- Instagram: @kanahau_utila and @kanahau_schoolofnature
https://www.instagram.com/kanahau_schoolofnature/?hl=es}
If you have any questions don't hesitate to write to us! :)
PAST ACTIVITIES
Introduction to Bats and Cave Expedition
For our first activity we were glad to take Gisel, Viviana, Danier, Elizabeth, and Michael for the first time in an exciting expedition to the Brandon Hill Caves to learn about BATS! We gave them a brief presentation about bat ecology, the 14 species we have in Utila and we debunked myths regarding common misinformation about bats. Inside the cave our bright students learned about echolocation, cave ecosystems (food webs, matter and energy transfers) and geological formations!
Archaeologists for One Day!
The students of Kanahau School of Nature became archaeologists for one day! With the aid of archaeologist Chaz Evans, we replicated an archaeological site to search for ancient and modern artefacts. Together we followed the protocols a real-life archaeologist would to explore an area. We dug out and cleaned real pieces of ceramic, learned to identify and differentiate prehistoric from modern artefacts, learned the basis of GPS and more importantly, had lots of fun while doing it!
Bat ID expedition!
We took our kids on an exciting bat ID expedition to the Blue Bayou area in Utila. We set the mist net to catch some furry flying mammals and made easy ID guides to teach the kids how to identified the different 14 species of bats we have on Utila. After catching the bat and identifying the species, we collected morphological data that the kids scribed on actual data sheets. Tiny biologists right here!! For a variety of reasons the children are not allow to handle wildlife, but they sure love to see it closely.
Swamper Conservation Workshop for Kids!
We took a group of 8 childrens to the Alijah's Channel for a full day mangrove and iguana conservation workshop. We gave a talk about the mangrove ecosystem and the 3 species of iguana that live on Utila. We focused on our endemic Swamper (Ctenosaura bakeri) and the importance of protecting this species. The kids learns how to monitor reptile populations using distance surveys, as little scientists they were given their own data sheets to fill in the information.
After a break we tought them how to collect morphological data in the swamperand showed them why they are called spiny tailed iguanas!!
Bat Conservation and ID Workshop (yes, we looooove bats!)
During this workshop the twelve kids that attended learn about the cave systems and the flying furry friends that inhabit the Brandon Hill Caves. They learn how to ID the 14 different species of bats that live on Utila. At dawn we set up the bat misnet to practice their ID skills on real bats!! This was a great experience for the kids to absorb and learn more about these amazing mammals as well as learning some of what these species roles in the ecosystems are. Great overall day the two groups of kids we had were amazing and full of enthusiasm!!
Nature Hike and Camera Trapping
We took our kids in a wonderful south shore hiking trip to set camera traps!! Explained them the importance of camera trap placement to monitor species populations and showed them cool images of the invasive raccoons! :o They didn't know we had raccoons in Utila! We explained the importance of invasive species control to protect native and endemic species. We also stumbled upon a turtle nest!!!
In the name of the future generations and the future of the environment of Utila we thank all help given to the School of Nature! :) <3
It is targeted at all those curious children from 10 to 16 years of age wanting to learn, get dirty and have fun. We do believe kids are the future, if we teach the younger generations to love their environment we will protect our island in the long run.
"Angus, holding a Ctenosaura bakeri, the endemic Utila Spinny Tail Iguana"
HISTORY
The project started in March 2019 with a group of 6 kids and we are now down to 12 students, but we are aiming to fund bigger activities to include more kids that are interested!
We specifically want to fund a snorkeling expedition to teach them about coral reef health and it's importance, a kayaking tour to rock harbour, a bioluminescence kayak tour and a camping trip to the beach!
You can check out more about Kanahau and School of Nature through our social media profiles:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KURCF/
- Instagram: @kanahau_utila and @kanahau_schoolofnature
https://www.instagram.com/kanahau_schoolofnature/?hl=es}
If you have any questions don't hesitate to write to us! :)
PAST ACTIVITIES
Introduction to Bats and Cave Expedition
For our first activity we were glad to take Gisel, Viviana, Danier, Elizabeth, and Michael for the first time in an exciting expedition to the Brandon Hill Caves to learn about BATS! We gave them a brief presentation about bat ecology, the 14 species we have in Utila and we debunked myths regarding common misinformation about bats. Inside the cave our bright students learned about echolocation, cave ecosystems (food webs, matter and energy transfers) and geological formations!
Archaeologists for One Day!
The students of Kanahau School of Nature became archaeologists for one day! With the aid of archaeologist Chaz Evans, we replicated an archaeological site to search for ancient and modern artefacts. Together we followed the protocols a real-life archaeologist would to explore an area. We dug out and cleaned real pieces of ceramic, learned to identify and differentiate prehistoric from modern artefacts, learned the basis of GPS and more importantly, had lots of fun while doing it!
Bat ID expedition!
We took our kids on an exciting bat ID expedition to the Blue Bayou area in Utila. We set the mist net to catch some furry flying mammals and made easy ID guides to teach the kids how to identified the different 14 species of bats we have on Utila. After catching the bat and identifying the species, we collected morphological data that the kids scribed on actual data sheets. Tiny biologists right here!! For a variety of reasons the children are not allow to handle wildlife, but they sure love to see it closely.
Swamper Conservation Workshop for Kids!
We took a group of 8 childrens to the Alijah's Channel for a full day mangrove and iguana conservation workshop. We gave a talk about the mangrove ecosystem and the 3 species of iguana that live on Utila. We focused on our endemic Swamper (Ctenosaura bakeri) and the importance of protecting this species. The kids learns how to monitor reptile populations using distance surveys, as little scientists they were given their own data sheets to fill in the information.
After a break we tought them how to collect morphological data in the swamperand showed them why they are called spiny tailed iguanas!!
Bat Conservation and ID Workshop (yes, we looooove bats!)
During this workshop the twelve kids that attended learn about the cave systems and the flying furry friends that inhabit the Brandon Hill Caves. They learn how to ID the 14 different species of bats that live on Utila. At dawn we set up the bat misnet to practice their ID skills on real bats!! This was a great experience for the kids to absorb and learn more about these amazing mammals as well as learning some of what these species roles in the ecosystems are. Great overall day the two groups of kids we had were amazing and full of enthusiasm!!
Nature Hike and Camera Trapping
We took our kids in a wonderful south shore hiking trip to set camera traps!! Explained them the importance of camera trap placement to monitor species populations and showed them cool images of the invasive raccoons! :o They didn't know we had raccoons in Utila! We explained the importance of invasive species control to protect native and endemic species. We also stumbled upon a turtle nest!!!
In the name of the future generations and the future of the environment of Utila we thank all help given to the School of Nature! :) <3
Organiser and beneficiary
Kanahau Utila Research And Conservation Facility
Organiser
Wales
Daisy Maryon
Beneficiary
