Nature education in
the Dutch Caribbean
Nature Education
Photo credit: © Hannah Madden
NATURE EDUCATION
Nature Education in the Dutch Caribbean
Protected Area Management Organizations throughout the Dutch Caribbean have long recognized nature education as a critical component of their work. DCNA chose Nature Education as the theme for the 15th anniversary and continues to develop nature education capacity on the islands through strategic planning and sharing of resources. Youth participation has become a permanent part of the annual DCNA program for the six islands.
Bionews Kids is a free printed and online nature magazine for children of ages 9-11 on the six Dutch Caribbean islands. It was designed based on increasing reading, sparking curiosity and educate kids about the extraordinary nature and its threats on the six Dutch Caribbean islands. This in support to the nature education programs of the Protected Area Management Organizations on Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten. The first BioNews Kids edition includes a drawing competition and DCNA encourages all kids to participate.
Junior Ranger Exchange Event is a prosperous educational event for the network of the Junior Rangers of the Dutch Caribbean Park Management Organizations. Four participants aged 12- 13 from the six islands gather on a host island to participate in a five day long customized program that includes overnight stays in nature, field excursions and workshops in a Dutch Caribbean National Park.
Big Live Nature Quiz was created to enhance the support for nature education officers as well as youth while staying safely on their respective islands. The live interactive quiz included questions on topics such as Flora and Fauna, Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation and Sustainability and questions about the National Parks of the Dutch Caribbean.
Resources are provided for nature education officers in a central repository, Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database, for information related to nature education, biodiversity, conservation and encourages communication exchanges between organizations in the Dutch Caribbean.
Latest News!
After a successful first edition, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) has released the second edition of BioNews Kids. BioNews Kids is a free printed and online nature magazine for children of ages 9 to 11 on the six Dutch Caribbean islands. It was designed to increase reading, spark curiosity, and educate kids about the extraordinary nature on the six Dutch Caribbean islands, including its threats. This in support to the nature education programs of the Protected Area Management Organizations on Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten. Around 17,500 printed copies in Papiamentu, Papiamento, English or Dutch were distributed to children on the Dutch Caribbean islands.
BioNews (Kids) is generously sponsored by the National Postcode Lottery.
To find more information on BioNews Kids and to read the online version of its second edition, click here.
